EPA fines Atlas Resources for Air and Chemical Violations

from the EPA's press release today:

Atlas Resources to Pay $84,506 Penalty to Settle Alleged Environmental Violations

PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 18, 2012) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that Atlas Resources LLC will pay an $84,506 penalty to settle alleged air and hazardous chemical violations at its natural gas production facility in Avella, Washington County, Pa.  

EPA cited the company for violating the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), a federal law designed to inform the public and emergency responders about hazardous and toxic chemicals in their communities. EPCRA requires facilities to submit annual reports on regulated chemicals, and routine and accidental chemical releases. The law also requires facilities to report on their hazardous chemicals to state and local emergency response agencies. This information helps communities and first responders to prepare for chemical emergencies. Atlas was also cited for violating Clean Air Act provisions which require regulated facilities to take steps to reduce the risk of accidental releases of hazardous substances, and minimize the consequences of any accidental releases that do occur.

EPA alleged that Atlas failed to provide state and local emergency responders required information on hazardous chemicals stored at the company’s Avella production facility during 2008 and 2009. The agency also alleged that Atlas did not comply with proper storage and handling of natural gas condensate at the site. EPA’s investigation at various Atlas production wells in Washington County also indicated the presence of vapor releases from condensate tanks. As a part of the settlement, Atlas did not admit or deny EPA’s allegations.

Currently, Atlas has discontinued operation of its natural gas extraction wells in Washington County until the company completes audits at eight of their production facilities located there. These audits are being done to ensure compliance with safeguards preventing accidental air releases and confirming that operations are environmentally sound.

The Atlas facilities in Washington County to be audited are located in Hopewell Township and Cross Creek Township. The company will conduct the audits based on EPA’s recently adopted New Source Performance Standards and National Emission Standards for hazardous air pollutants in the oil and gas sector. Compliance with these industry and federal standards will help improve local air quality and protect public health.

For more information on EPA’s air rules for the oil and natural gas industry http://www.epa.gov/airquality/oilandgas/.

DEP to Study Air Quality in Marcellus Drilling Region

It took a while - but finally the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will be conducting a long term air quality study of Marcellus Shale development. The study will be in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

The data from the study will allow DEP to assess any potential long-term impact of air emissions from unconventional natural gas operations to nearby communities, and it will help DEP address the cumulative impact of the operations in the Marcellus Shale region.

The primary site of the long-term study will be downwind of the Houston gas processing plant in Chartiers Township, Washington County, where DEP will monitor for ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen sulfide and methane. The ambient air will also be tested for more than 60 volatile organic compounds, including hazardous air pollutants, and meteorological data will be collected continuously.

DEP will also monitor for volatile organic compounds and collect meteorological data at three additional sites in Chartiers Township and Hickory Township. One of the Chartiers Township sites is upwind of the Houston gas processing plant and the other is downwind of the Brigich compressor station. The site in Hickory Township will be located downwind of the Stewart compressor stations.

You can read the complete press release here.

You can read the study’s sampling protocol here.