Dec 7, 2016 2 min read

Rice Energy subsidiaries have been fined more than $3.5 million by the state Department of Environmental Protection for violations of environmental laws at 10 well sites and six pipeline locations, the DEP announced Wednesday.

Representatives of the DEP and Rice Energy signed seven enforcement documents addressing the violations that occurred at sites in Washington and Greene counties. The violations, spanning several years, include failing to maintain erosion and sedimentation controls, releasing wastewater to the ground and water, failing to obtain required permits and failing to have a pre-operational inspection of a well site prior to drilling, among others.

“Minimizing the impacts that drilling activity has on Pennsylvania waterways is a key part of responsible development,” said DEP Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “While many of these violations have been corrected and remediated, they should have not happened in the first place. DEP will continue to hold responsible companies that act without permits and violate the rules and regulations of the commonwealth.”

The fines include $1.6 million for leaks from an unpermitted wastewater impoundment and insufficient erosion and sediment controls, failure to stabilize the well site, and other violations at two well sites in Jackson and Center Townships, Greene County; $1.3 million for failure to obtain a permit before earth-moving activities, failure to obtain a pre-operational inspection and multiple erosion and sediment control violations in Washington and Greene counties; $437,100 for erosion and sediment control violations and a well-casing violation at sites in both counties; and $97,852 for failing to obtain a permit for a culvert, illegally discharging into a waterway and erosion and sediment control violations at sites in both counties.

Rice Drilling B LLC, Rice Poseidon Midstream LLC and Rice Midstream Holdings LLC, are part of the enforcement actions. Sites formerly owned by Alpha Shale Resources LP, now owned and operated by Rice, are also included.

Rice Energy has paid all civil penalties imposed by DEP and has either corrected or is under an enforceable schedule to correct the violations at its sites, the agency said.

“We’re pleased to have reached an amicable agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,” said Kimberly Price, manager of external communication and community relations for Rice Energy in a statement. “We look forward to maintaining our collaborative partnership with the DEP, as we continue to safely and responsibly develop Pennsylvania’s natural resources.”