Legal Advocacy

Plum - Sedat Injection Wells

On October 10, 2023, we appeared at the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, along with officials and residents of Plum Borough, and partner organizations like Breathe Project to object the permitting of a second injection well in Plum.

Sedat 3A, the existing injection well in Plum, has been reported to be causing serious health, quality of life, and financial concerns for residents in the surrounding area, such as Katie Sheehan.

Despite reporting the problems relating to the first injection well, Penneco has proposed the construction of a second injection well. This further threatens the area’s water supply, therefore posing a threat to all of Pittsburgh’s drinking water.

The right to clean air and water is guaranteed to all Pennsylvania residents by the Pennsylvania Constitution, and Penneco should not be above the law. We will continue the battle for clean air and water on all fronts.

Hermes

• On Dec. 7, 2022, the Murrysville Council (Council) held a Conditional Use hearing for the proposed Hermes well pad. The hearing was advertised as an opportunity for public comment. In fact, the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) requires a public hearing to be held in accordance with strict requirements, including equal time for citizen objectors to be heard. Yet during the hearing, the Council refused to allow public comment to take place, directly violating the MPC. Council did not give residents and Protect PT equal time to present their case-in-chief. Protect PT asked for a continuance which was denied by the Council. We will continue fighting for public health and environmental justice in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. 

Aphrodite

• Protect PT has appealed the DEP’s grant of a Drill and Operate permit to Olympus for its “Aphrodite” well pad, located less than a mile from its Poseidon pad. This second well pad will double the noxious waste, noise pollution, and air pollution that was created by the Poseidon pad.  The basis for this appeal is the same as for the Drakulic Drill and Operate appeal.

Drakulic

Protect PT continues opposing Apex Energy’s Drakulic well pad, located in the center of Level Green. We had opposed Apex’s Erosion and Sedimentation plan that was submitted to the DEP. Protect PT reached a settlement with Apex requiring them to more adequately provide for the rehabilitation of the site in the event that it is finally developed.

Protect PT has appealed DEP’s issuance of a Drill and Operate Permit for Apex’s Drakulic well pad based on Public Nuisance, as well as violations of Article 1; Section 27 of the PA State Constitution, the Environmental Protection Amendment. Protect PT is asserting that by granting the permit, the DEP violated Section 27 because it completely lacks any regulations concerning the chemical classes PFAS and PFOA, toxic “forever” chemicals.

Gaia

• On or about Friday, August 27, 2021, a truck hauling well cuttings from the Gaia pad spilled the contents of its load on the access road and the adjoining township road, Denmark Manor Road. Protect PT went to the site with another individual who is experienced in the use of radiation detectors and discovered a higher-than-normal reading for ground-level radiation, Samples were taken and sent to a testing laboratory in Massachusetts.  The results have not yet been received (the lab works pro bono for us, so testing is often delayed). Protect PT continues its efforts to hold Olympus accountable for this accident. The DEP has not cited Olympus for this spill, but subsequent to Protect PT’s activism, did cite Olympus for a similar spill at their Metis pad.