Range agrees to pay $4.15 million to settle Pennsylvania DEP charges

Range Resources Corp., Fort Worth, has agreed to pay a $4.15 million fine, close five impoundments, and upgrade two others at its Washington County operations, Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reported. The fine is the biggest against an oil and gas producer in the state’s shale drilling era, the agency said on Sept. 18.

Violations included releases of contaminants, such as leaking flowback, that affected soil and groundwater, PDEP said. There has been no impact on drinking water from any of these impoundments, it noted.

Under a consent order it reached with the agency, Range will begin to close its Hopewell Township 11 (Lowry), Cecil Township 23 (Worstell), and Kearns impoundments. Range also will continue the closure of the Yeager impoundment. It also must close the Hopewell Township 12 (Bednarski) impoundment by Apr. 1, 2015.

DEP said the consent order also directs Range to upgrade two other impoundments. The liner systems at the Chartiers Township 16 (Carol Baker) and Amwell Township 15 (Jon Day) impoundments will be completely redesigned and rebuilt to meet “next generation” standards DEP is developing, the agency said.

It said that when upgrading the two impoundments, Range will install thicker liners than are currently required, an electrically conductive geomembrane that will allow better identification of potential leaks, and a real-time leak detection system.

The company also will fully investigate and remediate any groundwater contamination caused by the previous operation of the impoundments, the agency said.

It said that another impoundment, Mount Pleasant Township 17 (Carter), will be limited to storing only freshwater for as long as it remains in service. Range also will install a groundwater monitoring well network at the impoundment now and will perform an environmental site assessment at this impoundment once it is permanently closed, DEP said.

The company will be required to report to DEP quarterly on the progress of the shutdown and remediation of the sites, the agency said. Range also will be required to begin soil and groundwater investigations immediately at each of the closed impoundments to determine what, if any, impact there was from their operation of the impoundments. DEP noted that if contamination is found, the company will be required to remediate the sites.

Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].