The Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday announced it has fined NFG Midstream Trout Run LLC of Erie $250,000 for multiple violations of the Clean Streams Law and department regulations during construction of the Trout Run Gathering System pipeline in five Lycoming County municipalities during 2011 and 2012.
“Department staff documented continuing violations at multiple locations during a seven month period,” DEP Director of District Oil and Gas Operations John Ryder said. “NFG’s failure to implement and maintain erosion and sediment control best management practices resulted in several sediment discharges into unnamed tributaries to Mill Creek and Lycoming Creek, Lycoming Creek, and an exceptional value wetland.”
The department’s investigation began in October 2011 when inspectors discovered sediment on State Route 973, no temporary stabilization, and ineffective best management practices used to control erosion and sedimentation issues.
Periodic inspections by DEP staff during construction of the 16-mile gathering line resulted in the issuance of 13 Notices of Violation to NFG, including 12 violations for sediment discharges to waters of the Commonwealth, many of which are classified as exceptional value or high quality waterways.
In November 2011, a landslide in the company’s right of way above Ringler Road in Lewis Township caused the road to be closed temporarily.
Additional discharges occurred to an unnamed tributary to Lycoming Creek, an exceptional value stream, below the road. The sediment discharge violations continued to occur until Jan. 18, 2012.
While the sediment discharges did impact the waterways, the department did not document any impact to fish or other aquatic life from any of the violations. NFG has instituted additional environmental protocols since this time and has addressed the environmental issues identified on this project.
The pipeline was built in Gamble, Hepburn, Lewis, Loyalsock and McIntyre townships. It begins at a Seneca Resources well pad in McIntyre Township and ends at an interconnect station at the Transco transmission pipeline in Loyalsock Township.
NFG paid the penalty on September 18.
For more information call 570-327-3636.
