Time and time again, EQT [natural gas drilling company] shows that they don’t care about the communities they operate in.
Since the corporation’s pollution incident last year [in New Freeport, Greene County], an entire community’s water supply has been at risk of being unusable due to exposure to harmful chemicals.
EQT has done nothing to directly inform impacted residents of their risk, nor have they helped local families access clean, safe water.
The company has not provided a sufficient alternative source of water since the frack-out that occurred in New Freeport, PA on June 19th, 2022.
One day after the anniversary of the frack-out, area residents joined a rally and water drive outside of the EQT offices in Southpointe, Washington County.
An open letter to EQT CEO Toby Rice was hand-delivered to their headquarters making five requests--
-- A long-term alternate water source for all who need it (NOT jugs and bottles);
-- A halt to all activity at the Lumber well pad until the DEP investigation is complete and safe water is secured;
-- Transparency, respect, and open communication from EQT in all remaining stages of the investigation and until safe water is restored;
-- If water is found to be contaminated, a permanent solution for drinking wells and springs; and
-- A system to alert residents in the future and assurances that measures have been put in place to prevent this kind of incident from happening again.
The letter continued--
“The frack-out in New Freeport resulted in the contamination of well water with toxic chemicals, rendering it unsafe for consumption and leaving the community without access to clean and safe drinking water for over a year.
“This has negatively impacted their well-being and quality of life: For twelve months, they have been unable to turn on the faucet with the peace of mind that their water is safe to consume.
“New Freeport is a working-class community full of hard-working people who have spent their lives making it a place to call home. They are now facing negative impacts to their property values, as their only source of water has been negatively impacted.
“The people of New Freeport have endured significant hardships as a direct result of EQT's actions.
“We believe that through responsible action, EQT can rectify the harm caused, rebuild trust, and demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of the communities in which it operates.”
Click Here for a copy of the letter.
The Center encourages you to donate to the New Freeport Water Drive to provide clean water to families affected. [PaEN]
(Reprinted from the Center for Coalfield Justice website.)
Related Articles - New Freeport:
Related Articles - Impacts Of Natural Gas Industrial Activities:
-- 3 Days That Shook Washington County: Natural Gas Plant Explosion; Pipeline Leak Of 1.1 Million Cubic Feet Of Gas; 10,000 Gallon Spill At Compressor Station [PaEN]
-- Guest Essay: Counties, PEMA Need To Include A Complete Vulnerability Assessment Of All Natural Gas Facilities In State, County Hazard Mitigation Emergency Plans - By Cat (Cathy) Lodge, Washington County Resident [PaEN]
-- Observer-Reporter Letter: Act 13 Drilling Impact Fees Don’t Help Those Impacted By Gas Drilling - By Cathy Lodge, Washington County
-- Observer-Reporter Letter: The Definition Of Insanity - Have Qualified Stewards Of Our Health, Environment, Learning, Play Spend Washington County’s $9 Million In Act 13 Impact Fee Money
-- Feature: 60 Years Of Fracking, 20 Years Of Shale Gas: Pennsylvania’s Oil & Gas Industrial Infrastructure Is Hiding In Plain Sight [PaEN]
-- Environmental Health Project: PA’s Natural Gas Boom - What Went Wrong? Why Does It Matter? What Can We Do Better To Protect Public Health? [PaEN]
-- Senate Hearing: Body Of Evidence Is 'Large, Growing,’ ‘Consistent’ And 'Compelling' That Shale Gas Development Is Having A Negative Impact On Public Health; PA Must Act [PaEN]
-- Presentations Now Available From Shale Gas & Public Health Conference In Nov. Hosted By PA League Of Women Voters & University Of Pittsburgh Graduate School Of Public Health [PaEN]
-- Washington County Family Lawsuit Alleges Shale Gas Company Violated The Terms Of Their Lease By Endangering Their Health, Contaminating Their Water Supply And Not Protecting Their Land [PaEN]
PA Oil & Gas Public Notice Dashboards:
-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - July 1 to 7; New Brownfield Cleanups; Shale Gas Well Plugging Picks Up; New Conventional Well Abandonments [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - July 8; New Brownfield Cleanups Increase [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 69 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In July 8 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles Last Week:
-- DEP Rejects MarkWest Act 2 Cleanup Notification For 10,000 Gallon Natural Gas Condensate Spill At Compressor Station In Robinson Twp., Washington County; Notice Is Re-sent [PaEN]
-- Community Demands Accountability From EQT Natural Gas On 1-Year Anniversary Of Greene County Frack-Out Incident; Families Still Without Clean Water; No DEP Investigation Results [PaEN]
-- KDKA Investigations: Washington County Family Says Energy Transfer/MarkWest Natural Gas Processing Plants Turned Peaceful Farm Into Nightmare - Part I & II [PaEN]
-- KDKA Investigations: Environmental Group Says DEP Is Stonewalling It Amid Search For Answers About Energy Transfer Natural Gas Plant Explosion Christmas Day In Washington County - Part II
-- DEP Invites Comments On Draft Shale Gas Well Emergency Response, Pollution Prevention Contingency Plan Guidance [PaEN]
-- DEP Sets Aug. 23 Hearing On Title V Air Quality Permit Revisions For Artemas Natural Gas Compressor Station In Bedford County [PaEN]
[Posted: July 3, 2023] PA Environment Digest
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