Smoke continues at Markwest plant in Chartiers
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Black smoke billowing from the MarkWest natural gas processing plant in Chartiers Township has not been an uncommon sight lately. Residents again spotted smoke coming from the industrial stacks around 2 p.m. Wednesday, which was one of several routine flarings that have been conducted at the plant in the past couple months.
John Poister, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said the department was notified about the scheduled flaring and that residents should not be concerned.
“We don’t really like seeing black smoke in the air from these flares, but we understand that it’s part of the operation,” Poister said.
Poister said the DEP will issue a civil penalty to MarkWest for an incident in July when the plant’s de-ethanizer malfunctioned, but the department has not yet determined the amount that MarkWest will have to pay in fines.