DEP: 3 Range frackwater impoundments are leaking
In this file photo, a drilling rig used to bore thousands of feet into the earth to extract natural gas from the Marcellus shale deep underground is seen on the hill above a reservoir in Houston, Pa. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008 (Keith Srakocic/AP Photo)
The state Department of Environmental Protection has issued a violation to Range Resources because a fracking wastewater impoundment has leaked, contaminating groundwater and a nearby stream in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Range Resources spokesman Matt Pitzarella says the company plans to close the Yeager impoundment in Amwell Township, Washington County, but says there’s no evidence the pollution has affected nearby homes.
DEP spokesman John Poister says he doesn’t know how large of a fine Range Resources could face because the extent of the pollution is still being investigated.
The DEP is also working with the company on two other impoundments where chloride has leaked into the ground. Range has been removing polluted soil from one of those, also in Amwell, while the DEP is monitoring another site in Cecil Township after Range tests found polluted groundwater there last month.
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