Drilling practices targeted
The Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Justice are leading an investigation into natural gas processing practices conducted by MarkWest Liberty Midstream, LLC.
The investigation began July 6, 2015, following a site inspection at an undisclosed location in Washington County, according to public records. The investigation is centered on “pigging,” or line cleaning and maintenance, according to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection spokesman John Poister.
State and federal officials have been otherwise mum on the probe since a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the Observer-Reporter on Feb. 4 seeking emails between the government agencies and MarkWest was denied March 9. The denial letter from the EPA said the request for records was exempt from mandatory disclosure because their release “could reasonably be expected to interfere with (law) enforcement proceedings.”
A quarterly report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. obtained in February showed that federal authorities were investigating a “pipeline tool launcher/receiver site in Washington County” after a search warrant was issued by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
MarkWest officials were subpoenaed for documents related to the “design, construction, operation, maintenance, modification, inspection, assessment, repair,” etc., on pipeline facilities located in Pennsylvania. The report from MarkWest said “it is possible that MarkWest Liberty Midstream will incur expenses and potential assessments or fines in connection with the inspection and subpoena, (but) the amount of potential expenses or assessments cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.”
A spokesperson with MarkWest, when called for comment, emailed back excerpts from the company’s public quarterly report confirming the investigation.