Thursday, January 6, 2011

Steph Hallowich: "help regarding massive compressor station planned for Buffalo Township, Washington County, PA"

Most of you probably have heard of Steph Hallowich.

She is a land owner and inadvertent leaseholder in PA,
(she discovered the property she purchased already
had a lease on it).

She has become an outspoken activist against Shale Gas extraction.
There are many videos featuring Steph.

He is a letter she just sent, asking for help fighting a massive
compressor station being planned for her area.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Steph Hallowich
Date: Thu, Jan 6, 2011 at 10:41 PM
Subject: DEP Public Comment Period



I received this info. from a friend. Please take a minute to read what is planned for our area. This compressor station will be located in Buffalo Township, Washington County, PA (SW of Pgh). According to MarkWest Energy, this will be their largest compressor station in the US, with at least 14 compressors at the time of completion. There are several homes surrounding this site.
I live next to 7 compressors. I know what a nightmare they have created for my family. I never got a chance to submit a comment. I am asking any of you who have any sort of knowledge on compressors, air issues or a general concern for our health and environment to take some time and compile a letter to protect these families and surrounding communities.
Thank you!!!
Steph Hallowich


I was just alerted by Mr. Binder of the DEP that this permit for the Welling Compressor Station began its 30-day comment period. If my math is correct, these first six natural gas compressors would total 10,680 hp which is just over half of the total compression that DISH Texas is dealing with right now.
We have friends living close by this site (closest one is 1900 feet) so if anyone has any suggestions for good, relevant comments to make, they would be very much appreciated! "Concise statements regarding the relevancy of the information or objections to issuance of the Plan Approval."
Below is the official announcement out of the PA BULLETIN along with a link to photos and other information about the Welling site:
January 1, 2011 - PA BULLETIN:
Intent to Issue Plan Approvals and Intent to Issue or Amend Operating Permits under the Air Pollution Control Act and 25 Pa.Code Chapter 127, Subchapter B. These actions may include the administrative amendments of an associated operating permit.
Air Quality Program, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PASouthwest Region: 15222-4745
Contact: B. Hatch, Environmental Engineer Managers—Telephone: 412-442-4163/5226
63-00958: MarkWest Liberty Midstream and Resources, LLC (1515 Arapahoe Street Tower 2, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80202-2126) to allow the installation and initial temporary operation of four (4) new natural gas-fired compressor engines rated at 1980 bhp each and a new natural gas-fired dehydrator re-boiler rated at 2.0 MMBtu/hr at their Welling Compressor Station in Buffalo Township, Washington County.
In accordance with 25 Pa.Code §§127.44—46 the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) intends to issue Air Quality Plan Approval: PA-63-00958 to allow the installation and initial temporary operation of four new natural gas-fired compressor engines rated at 1980 bhp each and a new natural gas-fired dehydrator re-boiler rated at 2.0 MMBtu/hr at the Welling Compressor Station located in Buffalo Township, Washington County. Two currently authorized natural gas-fired compressor engines rated at 1380 bhp each, one dehydrator (including reboiler) rated for 100 mmscf/day of natural gas, one gunbarrel separation tanks with a capacity of 500 bbl, three condensate tanks with a capacity of 400 bbl each, and one saltwater tank with a capacity of 400 bbl have previously been authorized for installation under GP5-63-00958 and will be incorporated into this plan approval for a total of six engines, one dehydrator, one separation tank, three condensate tanks, and one saltwater tank.
Potential emissions from the facility are estimated to be 34.79 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx), 24.17 tons of carbon monoxide (CO), 24.25 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOC), 2.17 tons of formaldehyde, and 4.38 tons of hazardous air pollutants (HAP) per year. The plan approval will include federally enforceable emission limits on the engines for NOx, CO, and VOC. Best available technology (BAT) for the proposed sources is combusting natural gas, rich burn combustion for each engine controlled by three-way catalysts, good combustion practices including the use of air to fuel ratio controllers and proper maintenance and operation. The authorization is subject to State regulations, Federal New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) including 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart JJJJ for spark ignition internal combustion engines, and Federal National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS) including 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart HH for oil and natural gas production facilities. Federal requirements for Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting from 40 CFR Part 98 have also been included in this Plan Approval. Compliance with emission limitations will be demonstrated through stack testing. Plan Approval has been conditioned to ensure compliance with all applicable rules. Once compliance with the Plan Approval is demonstrated, the applicant will subsequently apply for a State Only Operating Permit in accordance with Pa.Code Title 25 Subchapter F.
Those who wish to provide the Department with additional written information that they believe should be considered prior to the issuance of the Plan Approval may submit the information to Alan Binder, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222.
Each written comment must contain the following:
Name, address and telephone number of the person submitting the comments.
Identification of the proposed Plan Approval (PA-63-00958).
Concise statements regarding the relevancy of the information or objections to issuance of the Plan Approval.
All comments must be received prior to the close of business 30 days after the date of this publication.
For additional information you may contact Alan Binder at 412-442-4168.

2 comments:

Clearvilletimes said...

PADep is the only power in PA to permit and then control these facilities. PADep goes by the EPA water, air and soil standards. EPA goes by what was established in 2005. Until changes are made in the "2005 Source", PADep goes by what has been handed down to them. The Professor from Penn State said: "The gas industry is experimenting with the Marcellus Shale to get it right." "There will be sacrifices" Together we could ask the "Source" which is Congress and the President to undo 2005 environmental exemptions. If the "Source" takes away the exemptions for the gas industry, PADep could and would make changes in the way they do business with the gas industry in PA. PADep's job is to do as the "Source" instructs them to do. We live with three huge compressor stations in Bedford County releasing tons of VOC's and NOX's withing around an eight mile radius as the crow flies: Columbia Gas, Texas Eastern, Steckman Ridge. Add up those toxic air emissions...more than a compressor station, they process the natural gas rolling in from the Marcellus shale.
www.clearville.wordpress.com

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