ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — Neighbors in Plum and the surrounding communities spoke publicly in front of representatives with the EPA voicing concerns about a permit for another wastewater injection well in town.
Penneco Environmental Solutions operates the well off Old Leechburg Road. The company filed a permit to convert an old natural gas well into a wastewater injection well. It would be the second injection well at the site. Neighbors say the first well has already proved troublesome and they want the EPA to shut down the permit for a second. Some neighbors are asking for the first injection well to be inspected and/or closed down.
“The existing well on the same site has already failed,” neighbor Michelle Fetting said. “Water has been contaminated and lives have been changed.”
Katie Sheehan lives 500 feet from this site and says after the first injection well started operating, her drinking water turned yellow with a nasty, “moldy” odor and quickly became contaminated.
“Our water and neighbor’s water now tests for total chloroform, iron, manganese, methyl and hexachlorocyclopentadiene,” Sheehan said.
Sheehan says complaints were made at the local, state and federal levels and now her family has to have water buffalos delivered.
“My neighbors and I have filed complaints with DEP, EPA and Allegheny County Health Department for concern about a chemical order in the air and symptoms of nausea, skin burning, eye irritation,” Sheehan adds.
Neighbors are also raising concerns about radioactive materials from fracking being deposited into rock so close to where people live.
“Pumping these substances into shallow wells under peoples’ homes is irresponsible,” Matt Kelso adds.
The Mayor of Oakmont, Sophia Facaros, called Penneco’s permit for another injection well unconscionable given the company’s current violations.
“The several violations the company has prior haven’t been resolved nor has it completed its permit application as it should,” Mayor Facaros added.
Penneco says a secondary injection well will make maintenance more feasible and thus safer without interrupting service.
The EPA is asking community members to fill out questionnaires until September 7. The EPA and DEP would both have to approve Penneco’s permit before anything moves forward.
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