Hearing held for proposed Young Township well
YOUNG TWP. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency held a virtual public hearing on Monday regarding a proposed brine disposal well in Young Township, during which local and county officials and several residents expressed strong opposition to the project.
“I just want to let you know that we are standing behind the citizens of Young Township against this well and we are going to fight you every step of the way,” Young Township supervisor Lily Cameron told EPA representatives.
The purpose of the hearing — centered on what has been officially designated the G2 STEM David A. Weaver No. 1 Well — was to give residents and officials a chance to share their opinions about the project as it enters the permit application process under the federal underground injection control (UIC) program. It lasted roughly one-half hour, during which residents and officials spoke unanimously in opposition to the project; no one spoke explicitly in its favor.
“From the non-technical standpoint, you look at how the sands have been drilled over the years and the fact that 100 years ago, it was rare to go past 1,000 feet,” county commissioner Scott North said. “Now we routinely go to depths beyond 5,000 feet — quite a bit beyond 5,000 feet. We need to consider the impact on tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, figuratively on what going 7,200 feet is going to do to the future, and of course how getting to the depth of 7,200 feet, how is that insulating and securing the drinking water at levels above 7,200 feet?”
North also expressed concerns about whether the project would have any
positive economic impact on the area.
“We have next to no active drilling or fracking taking place in our area, which indicates to me that we’re going to be helping someone else’s economy by bringing their fracking fluids into our area,” he said.
North ultimately said that barring further information or assurance regarding his concerns, he is opposed to the project.
A number of township residents spoke as well. Coleen Martino said she had a petition with over 100 signatures from area residents who are against the project.
As the purpose of the hearing was to listen to residents, EPA representatives were unable to answer questions about the project. However, James Bennett, source order chief of the UIC section of the water division in the EPA’s Philadelphia office, provided some background.
“The objective of the (UIC) program and permits authorized under it are to ensure that the construction and operation of these wells provides the highest level of protection to underground sources of drinking water,” he said.
All new injection wells constructed after June 1984 are required to apply to the EPA for a permit to ensure compliance with regulations intended to protect groundwater resources.
He also noted that not all issues surrounding such projects fall under the EPA’s jurisdiction. As an example, he said the UIC program cannot enforce complaints regarding noise, emissions, truck traffic or siting related to residential buildings. However, the permit contains a condition requiring the well’s operator to meet all state and local laws.
Anyone else who would like to comment on the proposal can do so through the remainder of the public comment period, which closes Tuesday, Feb. 21. Information on submitting comments can be found online at www. epa.gov/publicnotices. Comments can also be sent to Kevin Rowsey, permitting specialist, by mail at U.S. EPA Region 3, Four Penn Center, 1600 John F. Kennedy Blvd., PA 19103, or by email at R3_UIC_mailbox@epa. gov.