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"Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a drilling method used to extract petroleum (oil) or natural gas from deep in the planet. In the fracking process, cracks in and below Earth's surface are opened and widened by injecting water, chemicals, and sand at high pressure." Fracking 101 What is fracking? "Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a drilling method used to extract petroleum (oil) or natural gas from deep in the planet. In the fracking process, cracks in and below Earth's surface are opened and widened by injecting water, chemicals, and sand at high pressure." “How Hydraulic Fracturing Works.” National Geographic, education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/how-hydraulic-fracturing-works/ . Accessed 1 July 2024. "Fracking is used to extract natural gas from the Marcellus shale formation in the northern Appalachian Basin, extending through the U.S. states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia." “How Hydraulic Fracturing Works.” National Geographic, education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/how-hydraulic-fracturing-works/ . Accessed 1 July 2024. Learn More The Fracking Process "The process begins with the drilling of a long vertical or angled well that can extend a mile or more into the earth. As the well nears the rock formation where the natural gas or oil lies, drilling then gradually turns horizontal and extends as far as thousands of feet. Steel pipes called casings are inserted into the well, and the space between the rock and the casing is fully or partially filled with cement. Small holes are made in the casing with a perforating gun, or the well is constructed with pre-perforated pipe. Fracking fluid is then pumped in at a pressure high enough to create new fractures or open existing ones in the surrounding rock." Denchak, Melissa. “Fracking 101.” Natural Resources Defense Council, 19 Apr. 2019, www.nrdc.org/stories/fracking-101#work . How does Fracking affect Economic Development and Property Values? A study conducted by researchers at Duke University found that the risks and potential liabilities of drilling outweigh economic benefits like lease payments and potential economic development in Washington County, PA. Penn Township is no different! Click Here to view report. Protect PT has an extensive collection of resource documents (like the DEP and PT permits/applications, etc) If you want to view any documents that Protect PT has made available you may find it on this page or if there are documents you would like to share with us, please CONTACT us directly through this site. We thank you for your interest, information and concern. Fracking Infrastructure Interactive Map See well pads, compressor stations, and other kinds of infrastructure in Westmoreland and Allegheny County. For best results, view in full screen by clicking on the top right corner of the map. Protect PT's Fracking 101 YouTube Playlist Concerned about fracking in your community? Get in touch with our team to hear about our work around fracking infrastructure near you, and join us for our regularly-held community events. Support our work by subscribing to our newsletter and donating! Contact Us 43RD STATEWIDE GRAND JURY FINDS PENNSYLVANIA FAILED TO PROTECT CITIZENS DURING FRACKING BOOM Attorney General Josh Shapiro addresses the "initial failure" over a dozen years ago of the DEP to regulate and respond to the shale gas industry in a new 235-page report that endangers health and safety. READ THE REPORT

Become a member and increase our ability to fulfill our mission to ensure the safety, security, and quality of life for our community.   Membership Support Education and Advocacy Why Become a Member: Your membership gives you exclusive news and information about our ongoing educational and advocacy efforts in the community. As a member, you are also invited to vote for our board members every year. By becoming a member, you are ensuring that we have the legal standing needed to continue advocating for your rights and the rights of your community. Every membership increases our ability to fulfill our mission to ensure the safety, security, and quality of life for our community. Membership is $25/year for a household, or $10/year for an individual. Contact bili@protectpt.org with any questions regarding membership. Managing Your Membership Not sure when you last donated or need another donation receipt? You can now log into a secure online portal to check your donation records. If you have any questions about the portal, please contact noah@protectpt .org. Already a member but want to give? Donate Today! Don't want to donate online? Send a check to: Protect PT 3344 Route 130 PO BOX 137 Harrison City, PA 15636 Don't forget your membership form if you are a new member! Cut it in half and give the other side to a friend! Member Testimonials Saving the Quarry Sanctuary in Jeanette "The land I love so dearly is in danger of being poisoned by the petrochemical industry." Read laZae's compelling story about protecting her family's land with the help of Protect PT. - laZae Go to Fighting for Clean Air and Water in Plum "I knew in my gut [the terrible chemical smell] had to be related to the well activity, but needed help to understand all the impacts. That’s when I turned to Protect PT." Katie tells her story about how an injection well in Plum propelled her into action. - Katie Go to Protecting our Kids From Pollution "Gillian and I moved to Trafford because it looked like an amazing place to raise our family. Almost immediately, we found ourselves fighting to keep the air clean and safe for our kids." Read Ryan's story about protecting what matters most: his children. - Ryan Go to

What you should know before leasing your land to gas and oil production/exploration? We have resources and templates you can use to make an educated decision about leasing. What You Should Know Before Signing a Lease You should seriously consider consulting an attorney knowledgeable in this particular area of law as well as your mortgage lender and homeowner's insurance carrier as your decision to sign may affect your ability to refinance, sell, or be covered for any damages related to drilling. Pennsylvania does not currently have automatic forced pooling (the act of being forced by state law into participation in an oil and/or gas producing unit) and it is very difficult, and impossible in many circumstances, for companies to use this controversial legal tool to gain access to minerals beneath your property. The promise of income for your family for generations is often exaggerated and there are hidden fees, taxes, deductions etc. See a list of questions to ask before signing from our partners at Environmental Integrity Project Other Concerns Associated With Unconventional Gas Development Nuisance: Fracking is a heavy industrial process. Each well requires thousands of truck trips and results in significant noise. Drilling operations continue 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and require substantial lighting and produces tons of waste. Fire & Explosions: There is always the potential for fire and explosions with the nature of natural gas production and the evacuation area on an unconventional gas well is typically a 1/2 mile radius from the well. Water & Air Pollution: According to the DEP, in 2014 more than 240 private water supplies were said to have been damaged by oil and gas operations during the past seven years. Streams and tributaries are also at risk from contamination due to spills or regurgitation of flow back from slick water hydraulic fracturing. Residents living less than 1⁄2 mile from wells are at greater risk for health effects from exposure to air pollutants during well completion activities due to exposure to toxic chemicals released during the process. Property Value Depreciation: All of the above concerns are issues that can affect property values. Property values will also be affected by whether or not the mineral rights have been severed from the surface rights, whether the mineral rights can be or are leased to an oil & gas company, and problems obtaining mortgages and insurance coverage. Part of Protect PT's mission is to protect the rights of the entire community, if you have questions or want us to put you in contact with legal experts who may be able to help you, please contact us. Contact Us Canvass Your Neighborhood If oil and gas companies are approaching you and your neighbors about leasing it is important that everyone is aware of what it will entail. If you would like to share this information you can canvass your area with this printable "Think Before You Sign A Lease" door hanger. Click the image to the right for the PDF. Some Research To Do Before Signing Always consult an attorney knowledgable in this area of law before signing ANYTHING! Call your mortgage lender and home owner's insurance- your decision to sign may affect refinancing, selling, or damage coverage related to drilling. The promise of income for your family is often exaggerated and there are hidden fees, taxes, deductions, etc... ALL of your neighbors have NOT signed; gas cannot be extracted from your land without your permission. High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing is a heavy industrial process- do your homework before you sign away your rights. Denying a Lease For a sample letter you can use to deny gas companies the leasing of your mineral rights, download below. Additional Sources Mortgage Lenders on Fracking

LNG is what is commonly referred to as “natural” gas, fracked gas, or methane gas, the same gas burned in power plants and residential stoves. But to ship it overseas, the gas has to be cooled to 260 degrees below zero degrees fahrenheit, or negative 162.2 degrees C . At that temperature, it shrinks to about one six-hundredth of its normal size. On September 26th Protect PT, Stop Shannon LNG, Fractracker Alliance gave a presentation at Patagonia Pittsburgh showcasing the problems we share Stop Shannon LNG Resources Watch Our Presentation Calls to Action Stop Shannon LNG Website Frac Tracker - LNG Development

We offer air quality monitoring services, an important tool that can be used to protect yourself and your environment when living in close proximity to industrial practices, like shale gas development.  Air Quality Air Quality Monitoring What is in the air? Unconventional gas development can pollute the air in many different ways releasing particulate matter, volatile organic compounds and hydrocarbons. Some of this air pollution is visible like smoke from diesel engines or fires at the well and some air pollution is not visible, at least to the naked eye. Gases like methane are invisible often leak or are vented from well sites, pipelines and compressor stations. Because you cannot see them you may not even know you are being exposed to them. The videos below show infrared footage of methane releases. Notice how you can see it billowing into the air with the heat-sensitive footage, and how it is barely visible when the infrared is turned off. These compressor stations and condensate tanks exist within every area that is host to natural gas development. Click here to read the Earthworks Blog post about their visit with Protect PT. Sign up for Air Monitoring Tonkin Compressor Station - at one point, the DEP found 11 leaks at this site after a resident complained due to terrible smell and air quality Want to learn more about air quality? Attend one of our Living Near Shale Gas Community Workshops! Protect your family by monitoring your air NOW for a baseline. Air quality monitoring is an important tool that can be used to protect yourself and your environment when living in close proximity to industrial practices, like shale gas development. Air pollution from shale gas development is known to cause many health problems from burning eyes and throat to long-term effects such as cancer, poor birth outcomes, and cardiovascular disease. This air pollution is produced throughout the stages of the drilling and production process and will go on for the life of the well. If you live within three miles of a well site you can be exposed to emissions containing harmful volatile organic compounds like toluene, ethylbenzene, and formaldehyde, radon gas from drilling, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter from truck exhaust. What emissions can we monitor? Particulate Matter (PM) - Particulate Matter is tiny particles that travel on the air we breathe. It is a prime way VOCs, which easily attach to particles in the air, are introduced into the body and can cause serious health effects. With oil and gas development PM is one of the largest contributors to these negative health impacts. The presence of PMs can be measured using an air quality monitor such as the Purple Air monitor. To participate in a program for monitoring your air quality click here or see the form below to get started. Radon - Radon, the #1 cause of lung cancer outside of smoking, is a radioactive gas that everyone breathes in every day, usually at low levels, according to the National Cancer Institute. The levels of radon in the air are known to increase in the presence of oil and gas drilling. It is measured with a radon monitor usually placed in your basement. Sand pollution at Quest Well Pad Flaring of a conventional well near the Beaver Run Reservoir after a well-casing failure at the Shaw Well Pad Sign up for Air Monitoring

Learn the proper way to document and report an incident or a issue. Learn what department you should be reporting to, and how to track your complaint afterwards. Complaint and Compliance Documenting and reporting to the proper agency is critical to your protection Lights, Noise, Action. Lots of action! As unconventional gas development commences in Penn Township, residents will be exposed to the different stages of this heavy industrial process in close proximity to our homes, businesses, and schools. These stages include construction of well pads, drilling of vertical and horizontal bores, hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”), flowback wastewater management, and completion. Undeniably, each stage of this process brings with it unwanted impacts to our quiet, rural community. Some of the issues are, but not limited to, bright lighting, loud constant noise, truck traffic, dust filled air, and safety hazards. It is a misconception that state and local regulations alone will ensure your protection. And with over 50 wells currently proposed by Apex and Huntley & Huntley in our township, residents need to be extremely aware of their surroundings. Citizen watchdogs are our best defense against violations and non-compliance. It is imperative that citizens of the community are vigilant and active in protecting themselves, their property, and their environment. Documenting activity you see that doesn't follow local or DEP regulations is important because enforcement agencies don't necessarily know about or give attention to violations being committed unless you speak up and report them. You can follow the steps below to properly document and report violations. Tips for documenting and reporting violations Click here for a PDF of these tips and contacts 1.Track how development affects your daily life. Keep a journal as a record of what happened and when. You have rights under the Pennsylvania Constitution to clean air and pure water. Authorities must address your concerns and take steps to mitigate any potential harm or nuisance affecting you or your family. 2. Download our form and email it to us. Or fill out this form and we will track it for you. 3. Take time-stamped pictures or video of activities that are affecting you, in particular, dust, smoke, excessive noise, or smells that indicate fugitive emissions. 4. Contact responsible parties to voice your concerns and demand an appropriate response. - Contact officials and companies in writing, so there is documentation of your complaint. Quite often, complaints taken by phone do not become part of the permanent record. Written complaints will establish a timeline of the complaint and demonstrate how the government has responded to it. - Citizens can see the timeline of a violation or complaint and documentation associated with it through a Right To Know or Freedom of Information request filed with the entity that handled the complaint. Track inspections from your complaint Be sure to follow up on complaints you have filed you can track inspections on the DEP's Oil and Gas Mapping website . Click here to download detailed instructions for locating the well sites and the results of inspections. Let us know if your expectations were met by local or state authorities. We would like to help you by ensuring that the agencies responsible for addressing your concerns are meeting expectations and they are being held responsible for public welfare. Please fill out our online form and tell us how the above individuals responded. To learn more about Complaint and Compliance, Sign up for a Living Near Shale Gas Workshop Penn Township Local Government Contacts Ward 1 Commissioner, Jeff Shula: jshulacom1@penntwp.org Ward 2 Commissioner, Lisa Rose Zaucha: lisazaucha@penntwp.org Ward 3 Commissioner, Chuck Konkus: chuck.konkus@penntwp.org Ward 4 Commissioner, Chuck Miller: cmiller@penntwp.org Ward 5 Commissioner, Larry Harrison: lharr0716@yahoo.com Twp. Manager, Mary Perez: maryperez@penntwp.org Zoning Officer, Adam Hlad: ahlad@penntwp.org Not sure what ward you are? Click here for a map State and Federal Contacts DEP (state) and EPA (federal) oversee shale gas development regulations. For some tips on how to best document and report a problem, click here for Environmental Integrity Project's complaint guidelines. DEP Complaint Hotline: Kurt Smith 412-442-4184 or 1-866-255-5158, or file an online complaint here . EPA’s Eyes on Drilling Hotline: 877-919-4372 (877-919-4EPA)

Protect PT's first priority is serving the needs of our community. Read testimonials from local members. Member Testimonials Saving the Quarry Sanctuary in Jeanette December 2023 "The land I love so dearly is in danger of being poisoned by the petrochemical industry." Read laZae's compelling story about protecting her family's land with the help of Protect PT. From: laZae Read the Letter Fighting for Clean Air and Water in Plum December 2022 "I knew in my gut [the terrible chemical smell] had to be related to the well activity, but needed help to understand all the impacts. That’s when I turned to Protect PT." Join Katie as she tells her story about how an injection well in Plum propelled her into action! From: Katie Read the Letter Protecting our Kids From Pollution July 2022 "Gillian and I moved to Trafford because it looked like an amazing place to raise our family. Almost immediately, we found ourselves fighting to keep the air clean and safe for our kids." Read Ryan's story about protecting what matters most: his children. From: Ryan Read the Letter Support Our Work

Privacy Policy You recognize and agree that by uploading any content (including, but not limited to designs, images, animations, videos, audio files, fonts, logos, illustrations, compositions, artworks, interfaces, text and literary works) through any means to the website, you confirm that you own all the relevant rights or received the appropriate license to upload/transfer/send the content. You agree and consent that the uploaded/transferred content may be publicly displayed at the website. You agree to indemnify and hold Protect PT harmless from any demands, loss, liability, claims or expenses (including attorneys’ fees), made against them by any third party due to, or arising out of, or in connection with your use of the website or any of the services offered on the website. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall Protect PT, be liable for any indirect, punitive, incidental, special, consequential or exemplary damages, including without limitation, damages for loss of profits, goodwill, use, data or other intangible losses, arising out of or relating to the use of, or inability to use, the service. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, [website owner] assumes no liability or responsibility for any (i) errors, mistakes, or inaccuracies of content; (ii) personal injury or property damage, of any nature whatsoever, resulting from your access to or use of our service; and (iii) any unauthorized access to or use of our secure servers and/or any and all personal information stored therein. If you are receiving text messages from us and wish to stop receiving them, respond with “STOP” to the number from which you received the message. Once we receive your message, you will no longer receive further text messages from us. Our organization does not share or sell user information with third parties unless we receive explicit consent from the user.

Radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers in the US. Protect PT offers a no-cost radon monitoring program so residents can discover their radon levels and take action to mitigate if needed. Radon What is Radon and Why Does it Matter? Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in the United States for non-smokers. Lung cancer is usually not discovered until its later stages, and radon-induced lung cancer kills an estimated 21,800 people every year. Radon is a radioactive element that is a product of uranium decay. It is an invisible, odorless gas found naturally in rocks and soils that rises to the surface to be released. Radon gas can enter your home through cracks in the foundation and become trapped, accumulating over time. The levels of radon can vary from house to house. Pennsylvania is estimated to have some of the highest radon levels in the world - an estimated 40% of PA homes have radon levels above Environmental Protection Agency's action guideline of 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). A pCi is a unit of measurement for the rate of radon’s radioactive decay over time. The average radon level in a Pennsylvania basement is 7.0 pCi/L while the average of first floors in PA is 3.5 pCi/L. The EPA strongly advises homeowners to mitigate radon at 4 pCi/L. However, it is recommended to take action for 2 - 4 pCi/L because, as scientists have supported, there is not a truly safe level of radon to remain in a building. Sign up for Radon Monitoring Protect PT's Radon Air Monitoring Program (RAMP) Radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers in the US. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, making it undetectable without proper testing equipment. You can now participate in free radon testing through Protect PT’s Radon Air Monitoring Program (RAMP)! EcoQube Lending Within our service area, you can borrow a high quality, consumer grade radon monitor called an EcoQube. With the EcoQube app, participants can check their radon levels in real time, see average radon levels, and save the results for future reference. EcoQube testing lasts 30 days. RadonEye Pro Monitoring Near our homebase in Harrison City, PA, we offer radon tests with a professional grade radon monitor called a RadonEye Pro. DEP certified Protect PT staff install and retrieve the monitor, and provide a report of the test results. RadonEye testing lasts 14 days. Both monitors are about the size of a soup can, plug into a standard power outlet and connect to wifi. They sit quietly on a flat surface collecting data. If high levels of radon are found , Protect PT will provide you with resources for how you can get a mitigation system for your home and discuss a plan for a follow-up monitoring. Read this guide from ROCIS to learn how to hire a mitigation contractor in Pennsylvania. Donate to Support Radon Monitoring To learn more about Radon and Air Quality, Sign up for a Home Resource Guide Workshop Sign up for Radon Monitoring

Protect PT has drafted a model ordinance and submitted it to the Penn Township Commissioners for enactment to better protect residents from unconventional shale gas development, also known as fracking. If you are a Penn Township resident, sign our petition now to demand better protections for residents. Penn Township Ordinance Advocacy Penn Township is in the midst of a "Comprehensive Rezoning" of the entire municipality. Make sure that any changes that are made are in your family's best interest. Fracking The process of fracking leaves a clear, negative impact on residents living in its proximity. In addition to producing air, noise, and light pollution, emergency incidents can be catastrophic for environmental and human health. These effects are no secret, and can also lead to lower property values for residents living in proximity to a well pad. We're asking our municipal leaders to protect residents' health and property by: Increasing setback provisions from 600 to 2,500 feet; Developing a ten-year plan for future proposed development with gas wells at issue; Conducting adequate studies and documentation of the proposed 10-year plan and its impacts; Obtaining bonding and insurance in a minimum of 25 million dollars in the event of accidents involving people and property; Specifying fines and penalties for failure to comply with the Ordinance. Learn more about the impacts of fracking and how to make change by viewing our facts sheet below. 1/2 Get your FREE yard sign 1/2 Data Centers The data center boom has begun sweeping through Southwestern Pennsylvania, and without the proper precautions, municipal leaders have been left scrambling for adequate protections. Currently, Penn Township has no Ordinance regulating data centers. Unless the use is clearly defined and regulated as to where it can be located within a municipality, a developer could place a data center wherever they want. Without adequate protections, residents could be subject to : Increased electricity costs; Expanded fracking operations; High water usage; Noise pollution; Air pollution; Heat islands; Among other negative health impacts. Learn more about the impacts of data centers and how to make change by viewing our facts sheet below. Clean water right at our tap and clean air all around us, that’s what each of our families, across races and places, deserves. Join us to advocate for an ordinance that will protect our health and our community in Penn Township for generations to come. To learn more, call or email us: info @protectpt.org 724-392-7023 TAKE ACTION! ADVOCACY LETTER

Complete our form to sign up to volunteer with us! Volunteer We can't do this alone! Community service is a great way to help others and improve the community. Protect PT works to empower residents to become informed and involved in current local events to promote a more viable and communal future. If you are a socially and environmentally conscious person who has a positive attitude, flexibility, enthusiasm, and a passion for helping others and the community, please join us by volunteering your time. Young volunteers can gain skills and experience to include on their resume and college applications. SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER Pictured from left to right: Volunteers, Dan and Kevin, having fun at our 9 Year Anniversary Party!

Protect PT advocates for the constitutional rights of Pennsylvania residents to clean air, pure water, and the preservation of the environment. Legal Advocacy Our Legal Advocacy in Southwest PA Protect PT advocates for the constitutional rights of Pennsylvania residents to clean air, pure water, and the preservation of the environment. Members participate in appeals to public officials and government agencies charged with protecting your health and environmental rights. Find more information about each case below. Support our Legal Work Municipality Assistance Protect PT has assisted numerous municipalities in suggesting protective ordinance language covering activities that have been known to harm human health and the environment, including: Injection wells Data Centers Unconventional well pads Noise Also covering truck routes, lighting, landscaping, and other important considerations where industrial development is proposed. For residents who want more information on how they can advocate to protect their community from these types of activities, email our Community Advocate Jim Cirilano: james@protectpt.org or call 724-392-7023 . Drakulic Well Pad Drill and Operate Permits: Apex Energy, LLC, since acquired by CNX Resources, by its subsidiary WCAA Upstream, LLC (WCAA), obtained special exception zoning permits for a total of 7 well pads in Penn Township. Drakulic is one of those well pads and is located on 1st Street in Penn Township, adjacent to Trafford PA. Apex initially applied for the D&O permits in 2021, but because the permits expire in one year if drilling does not occur, those first permits expired and Apex was required to refile its application. Protect PT had appealed the second set of permits. The Environmental Hearing Board (EHB), the adjudicative body that hears appeals from permits granted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), held hearings in January of 2025 on the PA DEP’s issuance of drilling and operating permits for fracking wells by WCAA at the Drakulic Well Pad. Protect PT objected to well permits for Apex's 1H and 7H wells. The EHB rendered its decision in June and upheld the issuance of the permits by the DEP, however the hearing board amended the permits to include conditions on the well pad that WCAA (formerly Apex) had agreed to in a Consent Judgment that it had entered into with Penn Township in 2016. Protect PT appealed the EHB’s decision to uphold the issuance of the permits to the Commonwealth Court. WCAA appealed the EHB’s amendments to the permit requiring compliance with the provisions contained in the Consent Judgment. Since these appeals were filed, the permits granted by the PA DEP for the 1H and 7H wells have expired. No drilling is currently allowed at the Drakulic site. Due to this, Protect PT has dismissed its appeal and believes that the appeal by WCAA is now moot. Our Press Release EHB Docket 2025 Adjudication 2016 Consent Judgement Sedat 4A Injection Well Residents Prevail in Plum, Blocking Penneco’s Hazardous Fracking Waste Injection Well! Our Press Release On September 23, 2024, the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County issued an order that returned the Sedat 4a injection well permit back to the Plum Borough Zoning Hearing Board. The Court ordered the Zoning Hearing Board to clarify its original Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law. The Commonwealth Court explained in its opinion that the Zoning Hearing Board was free to deny the injection well permit, if it found that Penneco did not meet the required standards. The Zoning Hearing Board had the option to draw its conclusions from the transcript of original hearing held in 2022, or to conduct another hearing on the matter. The Board decided to conduct another hearing, which took place in March of 2025. In June of 2025, the Board voted unanimously to deny Penneco's application for a special exception and Penneco's application for a variance. Penneco appealed this decision in July of 2025 and Protect PT has intervened in the appeal. This appeal is currently in front of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Additional Documents Judges Order 1.29.24 Order of Court 9.23.24 Learn More about the Plum Injection Well Guardian Compressor Station In January 2024, Olympus, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Hyperion Midstream (Hyperion) filed for a Special Exception zoning permit for the Guardian Compressor Station (Guardian). Guardian is located between the Aphrodite pad and the Poseidon pad, between Pleasant Valley Road and Ramalley Road, near the Valley Landfill. A compressor station is associated with pipelines for the produced gas. It compresses the gas for transmission through the pipeline. Protect PT challenged the Special Exception zoning permit application before Penn Township’s Zoning Hearing Board. The hearings were held one night a month, over the course of nine months. The Zoning Hearing Board granted the permit and we have now appealed that decision to the Common Pleas Court, Westmoreland County, Judge Smail. Olympus challenged Protect PT’s right to bring the appeal, based on standing. In order to bring legal action, an individual or group must have personal stake or involvement in a particular issue and the result of a decision about that issue must have the potential to impact them in a significant way. Olympus is challenging whether we have a member who will be sufficiently impacted by this decision for our case to go forward. Judge Smail denied Protect PT's argument that we have standing. Protect PT has appealed this decision to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Pictured: June 2024's packed Compressor Station Hearing with our Environmental Consultant, Makenzie White, as an Expert Witness. Pictured from left to right: Community Advocate, Jim Cirilano and Protect PT's attorney Lisa Johnson, Esq. at the April 2024 Compressor Station Hearing Pictured: Our Environmental Consultant, Makenzie White, serving as an expert witness at the June Compressor Station Hearing. Slickville Pipeline Protect PT along with Three Rivers Waterkeeper, in a joint appeal to the Environmental Hearing Board are challenging the DEP’s grant of a permit for a produced waste pipeline to CNX Midstream that would traverse and imperil 48 wetlands, 43 streams, and two ponds, in the area around Slickville, Pennsylvania. We have filed our appeal and are now in the discovery stage of the proceedings. Aphrodite Well Pad The Well Pad Placement: Olympus had applied for the Aphrodite Well Pad in January 2022 and the hearings concluded in June, 2022, findings of fact and conclusions of law were issued in August 2022 and the Aphrodite pad was granted the permit by Penn Township. Olympus then applied to the DEP for an erosion and sedimentation permit. Protect PT objected, pointing out to the DEP that the proposed pad interfered with an intermittent stream. Olympus then moved the pad to avoid the stream, and applied to Penn Township for a land disturbance agreement. Protect PT appealed this to the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County, arguing that Olympus could not change the location of the well pad without another hearing before the Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB). The matter was heard by Judge Smail and he ruled against Protect PT. This matter is on appeal to the Commonwealth Court, briefing and oral argument are complete and we are awaiting a decision. The OG71b Permit: In order to obtain an approval to process waste through an OG71b, it must be based on a processing system that is currently in place and approved through an existing OG71a. There also must not be any violations associated with the original OG71a that the proposed OG71b is based on. The first Aphrodite OG71b was derived from a waste approval granted to the Olympus Calliope well pad. The Calliope disposal approval had numerous violations, however, which would void any potential OG71b for Aphrodite. Olympus then applied for an OG71b based on a prior waste processing approval granted to the Olympus Metis well pad. Olympus claimed the Metis waste processing approval is substantially different from Calliope’s. Protect PT granted the dismissal as to the Calliope derived approval and now challenges the grant based on the Metis approval. Draftina Well Pad Expiration of the Special Exception Approval: Apex obtained a special exception zoning permit from Penn Township as part of the Federal Court action, which resulted in a Consent Order and Apex receiving special exception zoning permits for the well pads called Draftina, Drakulic, and Beattie in 2016. The special exception zoning permits, by the terms of the Penn Township Ordinance, expire, without notice, after two years if there is not substantial completion of the proposed use. In March 2024, Apex and the township entered into a Land Disturbance Agreement whereby Apex proposed to begin the development of the Draftina well pad. This would mean that the development was only beginning nearly eight years after the issuance of the special exception zoning permit. Protect PT appealed the Land Disturbance Agreement to the Court of Common Pleas of Westmoreland County. Attorney John Smith of the firm Smith Butz represents Protect PT in this matter. The case has been fully briefed and argued and we are awaiting a decision. Drill and Operate Permit Appeal: Protect PT has also appealed the DEP’s issuance of Drill and Operate permits for Draftina. Protect PT is objecting to well permits for Apex's 2H, 3H, 4H, 7H, 9H, 11H, and 13H wells because these wells are close to sensitive public gathering places, the permits do not consider the cumulative impact of nearby wells and compressor stations, the permits do not consider federal New Source Performance Standard regulations on air emissions, the permits include an exemption from hazardous and radioactive pollutants, which violates the Environmental Rights Amendment, and the permits do not restrict PFAS and PFOAS contamination. One of the wells also drills under Turtle Creek and could pollute this critical public waterway. For additional updates on our legal work, visit our blog page or contact our Community Advocate, Jim Cirilano. Support Our Work