DEP shut down Laser Pipeline operations last week after receiving complaints of mud entering Laurel Lake Creek in Silver Lake Twp.
BY ROBERT L. BAKER
The State Department of Environmental Protection shut down the construction of a major natural gas pipeline in Susquehanna Countyfor a few days last week.
Scott Perry, director of DEP’s Bureau of Oil and Gas Management, said Friday afternoon that Laser Northeast Gathering Company “has been told we are idling their rigs until at least Monday” when Laser can meet with DEP secretary Michael Krancer and create a plan on how to proceed.
DEP spokesman Dan Spadoni said Monday afternoon he thought the meeting between Krancer and representatives of Laser was in progress, but had no outcome to report. He was unavailable Tuesday. Katie Gresh confirmed Tuesday morning that a meeting had taken place Monday and Laser was given the green light to resume laying its pipeline.
On Friday, Perry said DEP had received complaints of at least four spills in the high value Laurel Lake Creek in the vicinity of Snow Hollow Road since July 29.
A week ago, drilling mud – a mixture of bentonite clay and water – erupted again through natural weaknesses in rock and soil as subcontractors for Laser Northeast Gathering Co. were boring a path for the pipeline.
Similar spills took place in Laurel Lake Creek on July 29, Aug. 2 and Aug. 8.
It is not clear how much mud spilled or was recovered from the latest spill.
Kevin Marion, Laser’s director of pipeline engineering services, did confirm Saturday morning that all of his company’s directional rigs would be cut back pending a meeting with DEP on Monday.
Laser had referred to previous incidents as “inadvertent returns.”
Marionacknowledged previously the difficulty with which theSusquehannaCountyterrain has led to inadvertent returns “more often than any other place I’ve ever worked.”
Then, he also noted, “We are prepared to rectify the situation when it does happen.”
Perry estimated that closing down all 25 rigs on the Laser project in Susquehanna and Wayne counties would cost the company about $600,000 a day.
DEP spokesman Daniel Spadoni said that the drilling mud used is non-toxic and there is no indication that the earliest spills impacted drinking water or aquatic life.
A biological survey is underway to document whether or not there was an impact.
The 30-mile Susquehanna Gathering System will transport gas tapped from the Marcellus Shale throughSusquehannaCountyandBroome County,N.Y., where it will connect with the Millennium interstate pipeline. The project has been under construction since February.
Laurel Lake Creek is part of the Silver Creek watershed, which includesSaltSpringsState Park.
Portions of the watershed have been determined to have “exceptional value” by DEP — the designation for the state’s most pristine streams and one that carries extra protections from environmental harm.
Be the first to comment on "Laser pipeline shut down"