Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson
Republican Pennsylvania Reps. Glenn Thompson and Mike Kelly sought assurances that a new wastewater rule by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would not impact conventional oil and gas production, which has occurred in Pennsylvania for more than 150 years.
Thompson and Kelly requested in a letter to the EPA that it confirm that conventional producers of oil and gas will not face the same federal wastewater discharge standards as unconventional oil and gas producers at publicly owned treatment facilities.
“If the EPA does not clarify that this new regulation will not apply to water from conventional oil and gas wells, it could result in revenue losses for small towns and municipalities throughout Pennsylvania’s 5th congressional district,” Thompson said. “Losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue generated from wastewater treatment would be catastrophic to those publicly owned facilities.”
Thompson and Kelly raised concerns in a previous letter to the EPA that the agency’s “zero discharge” rule, which went into effect in August, would impact wastewater treatment at conventional oil and gas wells.
The EPA has said that wastewater generated from unconventional oil and gas wells after hydraulic fracturing has high concentrations of salt and other chemicals that are potentially harmful.
Ridgway Borough Manager Paul McCurdy said the loss of revenue from treating conventional oil and gas wastewater is equal to one half of the borough’s general fund budget.
EPA clarity on the matter is critical, Thompson and Kelly added, given that the EPA has stated it does not project the rule will impose any costs. The lawmakers are concerned the EPA’s definition of an unconventional oil and gas well is one typically associated with the Marcellus and Utica Shale gas drilling industry.