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Centralized Impoundments

Centralized impoundments are wastewater-holding facilities that are:

  • A natural topographic depression, manmade excavation or diked area formed primarily of earthen materials.
  • Designed to hold fluids or semifluids associated with oil and gas activities, including wastewater, flowback and mine influenced water, the escape of which may result in air, water or land pollution or endanger persons or property.
  • Constructed solely for the purpose of servicing multiple well sites.[1]

Centralized impoundments are frequently used by drilling operators to hold vast quantities of hazardous fracking flowback and produced water generated by unconventional shale wells. Centralized impoundments differ from other types of impoundments by being associated solely with hazardous waste, as compared to freshwater dams, and by serving to hold waste from multiple wells and/or well pads in the area surrounding them.

Centralized Impoundment Permits

In order for an operator to build a centralized impoundment (CI) in Pennsylvania, they must apply for a Centralized Impoundment Permit. Parts of the permit application beyond basic operator, certification, and engineering information for the process include:
  • Permit application fee: An application fee which is determined by how high the proposed dam embankment will be.
  • Act 14 Notification: Essentially, this requires operators to inform the local and county governments that they want to build a CI at least 30 days before permits are issued and construction begins.
  • Cultural Resource Notice: Requires operators to inform the Natural Heritage Program of their intentions, in the case where the impoundment may be near historic and/or archaeological sites.
  • PNDI Search Receipt: This checks that operators complete a Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) before construction. This is of particular importance if the proposed site is in a state or national natural area.
  • Color Photographs: Photos which clearly illustrate the area watercourses, wetlands, and current water conditions.
  • ESCGP-2: Another type of permit, this stands for Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan.
  • Maps, Plans, Profiles, and Cross-Sections
  • Impacts from Dam Failure: This is an estimate of what the impacts and damages could be if the well were to break, with attention to houses, roads, serious property damage, and other human structures.
  • Groundwater Protection Requirements: Verifies operators know the impoundments must be lined with impermeable membranes (at least 40 mils thick), and requires a working leakage detection system and working groundwater monitoring system be installed.[2]

Notable Lawsuits and Spills

2012 Phoenix Impoundment Spill

In May, 2012, the lining of impoundment 2, a localized “freshwater” impoundment containing flowback from 37-117-21148 at the Phoenix Wellpad S was discovered to have holes in it both above and below the liquid line. The DEP and EQT inspected the site several times, and at the DEP's prompting EQT drained the impoundment and removed the lining in June, 2012. Numerous seeps were discovered, with EQT responding adequately to some of them, and it is unknown how the holes were made in the lining.[3]


The runoff from the spill leaked into Rock Run, a wetlands system frequently fished for trout, causing significant groundwater contamination and environmental damages. Since 2012, EQT has continued remediation efforts, though local environmental groups do not feel as though they have adequately responded to the spill in the two years since it occurred, and are requesting a thorough review of the sites affected as of April 2014.[4]

Jon Day Impoundment Spill

On April 18, 2014, a leak in the Jon (John) Day centralized impoundment previously containing fracking brine and flowback fluids was discovered as workers were replacing the torn lining of a single-lined pit on the Amwell Township unit. While initially not described as a “leak” by Range Resources Appalachia representatives[5] as the impoundment had been empty for a month or so, DEP investigations concluded that there was, in fact, a significant leak of fracking fluid and associated chemicals into the surrounding soil.[6] While numbers differ, an estimated 2,500-10,000 tons of contaminated soil has been removed from the site as of the end of May, 2014, and is being taken to Washington County landfills.[7][8][9]

The leak was not discovered until late April due to a compromised leak-detection monitor, and Range Resources Appalachia is unsure of how long ago the leak actually began or how long it had been leaking before the fluid was removed. The Range Resources spokesman reports the leak had a “minor impact” on the contaminated soil, and has had no impact on air or water quality. The DEP is investigating the truth of this claim through ongoing water and soil testing.[7]

Known Pennsylvania Centralized Impoundments

Summary of Results

There have been 52 recorded Centralized Impoundment (CI) permits submitted since 2009, when the records start. Of those 52, 28 of them were formally issued. Of the remaining, 3 of them were returned, 7 are currently pending, and 14 of them were withdrawn. Range Resources Appalachia LLC has submitted the most total CI permits, though Range also has the largest number of withdrawn permits. CNX Gas Company LLC has the most issued + pending permits, and has no withdrawn permits. A majority of CI's are located in Washington County, though there are several in Susquehanna County and other area counties as well.

PA Centralized Impoundments Table

Date Received Date Disposed Permit Status Site Name Operator Name Permit # Coordinates Township/Municipality County Wells Volume Notes
05/14/2009 6/24/2009 Issued Bednarski Impoundment Dam RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC 95-7-60915-1 Hopewell Washington
06/11/2009 6/29/2009 Issued Best Impoundment Dam RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC 95-7-60915-2 Hopewell Washington
05/20/2009 2/16/2010 Withdrawn Kearns Impoundment Dam RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC 95-7-60915-3 Hopewell Washington
06/11/2009 8/6/2009 Withdrawn Ervine Brad 5 CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA LLC 951665420002
07/16/2009 8/6/2009 Withdrawn Champluvier Brad 10 WI CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA LLC 951665420003
10/15/2009 2/23/2010 Withdrawn Elias 10,11H,12H ATLAS RESOURCES LLC 95-7-66455-4
10/15/2009 2/23/2010 Withdrawn Shyuck 7H, 8 ATLAS RESOURCES LLC 95-7-66455-5
12/15/2009 1/27/2010 Issued Jon Day Impoundment RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC 95-7-60915-6 N 40° 07` 22"; W 80° 13` 02" Amwell Washington 148176 Permit is 95-7-60915-3 in PABulletin
12/15/2009 4/20/2010 Issued Greenzweig 1 SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY PROD CO 95-16-65420-004 N 41° 47` 09.73"; W 76° 14` 06.17" Herrick Bradford 148443, Greenzweig Well Pad D3, Greenzweig Well Pad G1, and future wells in the area
01/04/2010 2/11/2010 Issued Carol Baker Impoundment RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC 95-7-60915-7 N 40° 13` 50.6"; W -80° 16` 22.1" Chartiers Washington 37-125-27127 14.1 million gallons
01/15/2010 3/29/2010 Issued Carter Impoundment Dam RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC 95-7-60915-8 Mount_Pleasant Washington
02/02/2010 6/9/2010 Issued Yeager Impoundment Dam RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC 95-7-60915-9 Amwell Washington
03/04/2010 9/7/2010 Issued Nineveh Project Area Dam CNX GAS CO LLC 95-7-37312-10 N 40° 00` 26.71", W 80° 17` 13.39" Morris Greene 37-059-25265
03/09/2010 5/6/2010 Issued Greenzweig 1A SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY PROD CO 95-16-65420-005 N 41° 47` 12.73"; W 76° 13` 46.54" Herrick Bradford 148443, 149170, 148326, 147765
03/29/2010 5/21/2010 Issued Greenzweig 2 SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY PROD CO 95-16-65420-006 N 41° 47` 9.245"; W 76° 13` 52.56" Herrick Bradford 148443, 149170, 148326, 147765
06/29/2010 7/30/2012 Issued Doerfler Dam (Ross Unit 1H Dam) ANTERO RESOURCES CORP 95-7-38986-11 N 40° 05` 33.21"; W 79° 58` 04.35" West Pike Run Washington 37-125-24008
07/09/2010 12/8/2010 Withdrawn Confer Central Impoundment EXCO RESOURCES PA INC 95-16-65420-008
07/16/2010 11/9/2010 Issued Worstell Impoundment RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC 95-7-60915-12 N 40° 18` 1.46", W 80° 13` 48.4" Cecil Washington 149599, 149475, 148292 Permit is 95-7-60915-9 in PABulletin
07/26/2010 9/17/2010 Issued Fisk Hollow 1 PA GEN ENERGY CO LLC 95-16-65420-009 N 41° 50` 52.09", W 78° 09` 27.63" Pleasant_Valley Potter
09/09/2010 3/6/2012 Withdrawn Green Team Impoundment RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC 95-7-60915-13
10/14/2010 1/10/2011 Withdrawn Gentner Impoundment RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC 95-16-65420-010
11/02/2010 1/10/2011 Withdrawn Ogontz Impoundment RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC 95-16-65420-011
12/30/2010 3/21/2011 Withdrawn Red Bend Impoundment RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC 95-16-65420-012
06/09/2011 3/23/2012 Issued MOR9ASH Centralized Pit CNX GAS CO LLC 95-7-37312-14 N 39° 58` 50.15", W 80° 21` 37.83" Morris Greene 37-125-24923, 37-125-24924, 37-125-24925, 37-125-24926, 37-125-24927, 37-125-24928, 37-125-24929, 37-125-24930, 37-125-24931. 37-125-24824, 37-125-24882, 37-125-24916, 37-125-24917, 37-125-24880, 37-125-24918, 37-125-24822, 37-125-24829, 37-125-24835, 37-125-24836, 37-125-24837, 37-125-24838, 37-125-24866, 37-125-24867, 37-125-24841, 37-125-24868, 37-125-24869, 37-125-24842, 37-125-24898, 37-125-24899, 37-125-24816, 37-125-24817, 37-125-24818, 37-125-24819, 37-125-24827, 37-125-24828, 37-125-24855, 37-125-24856, 37-125-24820, 37-125-24821, 37-125-27071, 37-125-27080, 37-125-27078, 37-125-27079, 37-125-27081, 37-125-27082
07/14/2011 10/19/2011 Issued Zeffer Impoundment 1 SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY PROD CO 95-16-65420-013 N 41° 48' 59.23", W 75° 46' .34" New_Milford Susquehanna Area wells
07/14/2011 10/19/2011 Issued Zeffer Impoundment 2 SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY PROD CO 95-16-65420-014 N 41° 49' 2.03", W 75° 45' 54.32" New_Milford Susquehanna Area wells
07/21/2011 11/21/2011 Returned Plesniak Impoundment REX ENERGY OPERATING CORP 95-8-38818-001
11/28/2011 8/28/2012 Withdrawn Ransom 1 Impoundment SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY PROD CO 95-29-65420-015 41° 40` 15" N, 75° 40` 13" W Lenox Susquehanna Area wells
11/28/2011 8/28/2012 Withdrawn Ransom 2 Impoundment SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY PROD CO 95-29-65420-016 41° 40` 19" N, 75° 40` 15" W Lenox Susquehanna Area wells
12/28/2011 1/18/2012 Returned Big Run Centralized Dam Impoundment CNX GAS CO LLC 95-8-39070-002
01/20/2012 9/26/2012 Returned Fiondi Centralized Impoundment WPX ENERGY APPALACHIA LLC 95-29-65420-017 41 50' 21.75” N, 76 03' 21.81” W Middletown Susquehanna Area wells
01/23/2012 8/29/2012 Withdrawn Colwell Centralized and Freshwater Impoundments WPX ENERGY APPALACHIA LLC 95-29-65420-018 41° 55` 38" N, 75° 49` 47" W Franklin Susquehanna Area wells
04/12/2012 8/27/2012 Issued Big Run Centralized Dam Impoundment CNX GAS CO LLC 95-8-39070-003
05/15/2012 1/22/2013 Withdrawn Phoenix S EQT PRODUCTION CO 95-29-65420-019 N 41°38`43", W77°15`26" Duncan Tioga Area wells
06/13/2012 10/31/2012 Issued MOR14HS Centralized Pit CNX GAS CO LLC 95-7-37312-15 N 39° 58` 34.96", W 80° 22` 30.31" Morris Greene 37-059-25421
07/17/2012 12/17/2012 Issued NV North 2 Centralized Pit CNX GAS CO LLC 95-7-37312-16 N 40° 05` 44.15", W -80° 18` 02.25" South_Franklin Washington 37-125-24563 5.9 million gallon
07/17/2012 5/22/2013 Issued NV North 1 Centralized Pit CNX GAS CO LLC 95-7-37312-17 South_Franklin Washington
07/30/2012 10/1/2012 Issued Johnson Site / Cop Tract 293, 322 & 729 Cent Impoundment Dam PA GEN ENERGY CO LLC 95-29-65420-020 N 41° 22' 10.66”, W 77° 23' 58.19” McHenry Lycoming
08/15/2012 12/3/2012 Issued Hibbits Impoundment RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC 95-7-60915-18 N 40° 09` 13.3", W 80° 25` 17.66" Donegal Washington 144620, 37-125-22799, James Unit Well 5H and 7H, and future wells in the area
01/28/2013 8/29/2013 Issued NV North 3 Centralized Pit CNX GAS CO LLC 95-7-37312-19 N: 40° 02` 13.51"; W: -80° 19` 57.78" Morris Washington 37-059-25421 5.6 million gallon
02/06/2013 4/4/2014 Issued Mamont South Centralized Impoundment CNX GAS CO LLC 95-7-37312-20 N 40° 28` 36.43", W 79° 34` 21.42" Washington Westmoreland 37-129-28793, 37-129-28794, 37-129-28795, 37-129-28796, 37-129-28797, 37-129-28809, 37-129-28810, 37-129-28811, 37-129-28821, 37-129-28822, 37-129-28823, and future wells in the area
04/04/2013 8/20/2013 Issued NV North 4 Centralized Pit CNX GAS CO LLC 95-7-37312-21 N: 40° 01` 57.23"; W: -80° 19` 35.00" Morris Washington 37-125-24923 5.1 million gallon
05/10/2013 Pending WFN Centralized Wastewater Impoundment C NOBLE ENERGY INC 95-7-39455-22 West Finley Washington
05/31/2013 Pending Loffert Centralized Impoundment Dam RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC 95-7-60915-23 N 40° 21` 40.03", W 80° 18` 31.91" Smith Washington 150439, 37-125-26962, 37-125-26959, 145246
07/09/2013 Pending Hickman Centralized Impoundment CNX GAS CO LLC 95-7-37312-24 N 40° 31` 10.44", W 79° 32` 36.03" Bell Westmoreland 37-065-27016, 37-065-27017, 37-063-37009, 37-063-37010, 37-063-37011, 37-063-37012, 37-063-37013, 37-063-37014, 37-129-28809, 37-129-28810, 37-129-28811, 37-129-28793, 37-129-28794, 37-129-28795, 37-129-28796, 37-129-28797, 37-063-37478, 37-063-37479, 37-063-37480, 37-065-26907, 37-065-26908, 37-065-26909, 37-065-26911, 37-129-28821, 37-129-28822, 37-129-28823, 37-063-37489, 37-063-37490, 37-063-37491, 37-063-37492, 37-063-37493, 37-065-27018, 37-065-27019, 37-065-27020, 37-065-27021
10/18/2013 2/20/2014 Issued O'Hara Centralized Wastewater Impoundment SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY PROD CO 95-29-65420-021 N 41º 52' 09.21", W 75º 38' 25.01" Jackson Susquehanna Area wells
10/29/2013 Pending WFN Centralized Wastewater Impoundment A NOBLE ENERGY INC 95-7-39455-25 West Finley Washington
01/03/2014 Pending Marchand Centralized Impoundment CNX GAS CO LLC 95-7-37312-26 N 40° 51` 15.57", W 79° 2` 4.76" North Mahoning Indiana 37-063-37009, 37-063-37010, 37-063-37011, 37-063-37012, 37-063-37013, 37-063-37014, 37-063-37478, 37-063-37479, 37-063-37480, 37-063-37489, 37-063-37490, 37-063-37491, 37-063-37492, 37-063-37493
01/22/2014 Pending WFN Centralized Wastewater Impoundment B NOBLE ENERGY INC 95-7-39455-27 West Finley Washington
04/30/2014 Pending Green Hill 2 Impoundment CNX GAS CO LLC 95-7-37312-28 Center Greene
01/31/09 Issued Lowry Freshwater Impoundment Dam RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC DOG6309-001 N 40° 14` 44"; W 80° 21` 07" Hopewell Washington 37-125-23169
06/28/2010 1/21/2011 Issued Resource Recovery / Brown / Alder Run Property Impoundment Dam WPX ENERGY APPALACHIA LLC 95-16-65420-007 N 41° 1` 30.9", W 78° 3` 35.3" Snow Shoe Centre 149177, 149178, 149180
Notes on Compilation of PA Centralized Impoundments Table
The data from this table comes primarily from the PA DEP "eFacts" website. To locate this data, go to the eFacts search tool, and do an Authorization Search with "Centralized Impoundment permit," "New," and "Oil & Gas" selected.
Other data in the table comes from the Pennsylvania Bulletin, published by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. To locate this data, go to their search tool and enter "Centralized impoundment" in the search box. Data taken from the PABulletin includes geocoordinates, wells serviced (when information was available), and volume (when information was available). Interestingly, the PABulletin only included data for roughly half the wells mentioned in the eFacts guide. The reason for this discrepancy is unknown.
When constructing this table, 51 of the CI's were located with the eFacts tool. The Lowry Freshwater Impoundment Dam was found in the PABulletin. The lack of overlap is explained by the nature of the permit applications--the Lowry was a request to convert an existing freshwater impoundment into a centralized impoundment, and so did not show up in the "new" category of eFacts authorizations.
This table was compiled by user crenee on June 12th, 2014.

References

  1. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BOARD (14 December 2013). "Environmental Protection Performance Standards at Oil and Gas Well Sites". Proposed Legislation (25 PA. CODE CH. 78 : PA DEP). Retrieved 12 June 2014. 
  2. Bureau of Waterways Engineering and Wetlands, Office of Oil and Gas Management (Nov. 2013). "Application Instructions for a Dam Permit for a Centralized Impoundment Dam for Oil and Gas Operations". 8000-PM-OOGM0084 (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection).  Check date values in: |date= (help)Category:CS1 errors: dates
  3. http://responsibledrillingalliance.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=359:eqt-impoundment-liner&catid=55&Itemid=262
  4. Coyne, Justine (Apr. 9, 2014). "Environmental groups urge action against EQT". Pitsburgh Business Times. Retrieved June 9, 2014.  Check date values in: |date= (help)Category:CS1 errors: dates
  5. Hopey, Don (April 18,2014). "Gas drilling wastewater leak found in Amwell". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 4, 2014.  Check date values in: |date= (help)Category:CS1 errors: dates
  6. Hopey, Don (April 18th,2014). "Pa. DEP investigating liner leak at gas wastewater site in Washington County". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 4, 2014.  Check date values in: |date= (help)Category:CS1 errors: dates
  7. 7.0 7.1 Jones, Mike (May 30th,2014). "Crews still removing soil from leaking Jon Day impoundment". Observer-Reporter. Retrieved June 4, 2014.  Check date values in: |date= (help)Category:CS1 errors: dates
  8. Gillooly, Amanda (May 28th,2014). "Crews Hauling Remaining 1,000 Tons of Contaminated Soil Out of Range Resources Impoundment in Washington County This Week". Marcellus Monitor. Retrieved June 4, 2014.  Check date values in: |date= (help)Category:CS1 errors: dates
  9. Gillooly, Amanda (April 28th,2014). "Range Resources Hauling Contaminated Soil to Washington Co. Landfill Using Old Permit, Thousands of Tons More Need Removed". Marcellus Monitor. Retrieved June 4, 2014.  Check date values in: |date= (help)Category:CS1 errors: dates