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High radioactivity from Marcellus not found in 7 Pa. rivers
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The high radioactivity readings found in some Marcellus Shale waste fracking fluids were not found in sampling done on seven Pennsylvania rivers by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The DEP announced today that water quality monitoring for radioactive materials done in November and December downriver from wastewater treatment plants that accept Marcellus Shale wastewater found no elevated radioactivity levels.
All the river water samples showed radiation levels at or below normal naturally occurring background levels for radium 226 and 228, which were found in much higher concentrations in wastewater samples at 116 of 179 deep gas wells.
DEP Secretary Michael Krancer said the sampling stations were established in the fall to monitor river and stream quality impacts from Marcellus Shale development. The sampling was done on raw water in the rivers and creeks at locations where public water suppliers have intakes.
The DEP tested water from the Monongahela River at Charleroi; South Fork Ten Mile Creek in Greene County; Conemaugh River in Indiana County; Allegheny River at Kennerdell in Venango County; Beaver River in Beaver County; Tioga Creek in Tioga County; and the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Lycoming County.
First Published March 7, 2011 11:44 am
