Worstell Impoundment

The Worstell Impoundment Dam is a centralized impoundment which collects and stores flowback water and fresh water for the use and re-use of hydraulic fracturing water from the Worstell Unit Well (# 1H, 2H, 3H, 4H, 5H, 7H), Troyer/Space Management Unit Well (1H, 2H, 3H, 4H, 9H, 10H, 11H), Engel Unit Well (3H, 4H, 5H) and future wells in the area.

Impoundment:	Worstell Impoundment Dam	Loading map... {"type":"SATELLITE","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"mappingservice":"googlemaps3","width":"100%","height":"350px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","visitedicon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"wmsoverlay":false,"copycoords":false,"static":false,"zoom":14,"layers":[],"controls":["pan","zoom","type","scale","streetview","rotate"],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"markercluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[],"searchmarkers":"","enablefullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"locations":[]}
Operator Name:	RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
Permit #:	95-7-60915-12
Permit Date Recieved:	07/16/2010
Permit Date Disposed:	11/19/2010
Municipality:	Cecil
County:	Washington
State:	Pennsylvania
Latitude:	N 40° 18` 1.46"
Longitude:	W 80° 13` 48.4"
Associated Well Pads:	149599, 149475, 148292
Associated Wells:	37-125-23810, 37-125-23811, 37-125-23809, 37-125-23907, 37-125-23676, 37-125-23831, 37-125-23902, 37-125-23903, 37-125-23904, 37-125-23949, 37-125-23942, 37-125-23940, 37-125-23941, 37-125-23994, 37-125-23908, 37-125-23909

Controversies

News reports and public interactions highlight a 2013 controversy about lack of transparency by the DEP around the Worstell Impoundment. In a series of emails published by a state representative, Jesse White, under the Pennsylvania Open Records Law, the DEP discusses issues surrounding the Worstell Impoundment and the events surrounding a non-public “public meeting” about purported wastewater spills from the impoundment. Events as discussed:

• In 2011, two spills occur (see Violations section below), which are immediately cleaned up.
• In a 2013 news report, it is stated that the Worstell impoundment had two spills and a leakage, though DEP representatives maintain that no soil was contaminated by a leakage.
• Public concern is heightened as groundwater testing reveals heightened levels of chloride, strontium, barium, and sodium.
• Range Resources Appalachia representatives clarify that the spills were erroneously reported, and there was no leakage, merely a valve failure which was immediately cleaned up and did not contaminate any soil.
• The DEP and Cecil Township representatives plan a meeting to discuss the impoundment's permits, and concerned residents of the county request to know what goes on.
• The DEP ignores or deflects multiple emails from several concerned residents, who contact their representative, Jesse White, to request a release on their behalf. The DEP maintains a level of privacy which Representative White finds concerning.

Violation History

Violation ID	Date	Violation Description	Status	Penalty Amount Paid
610141	1/28/2011	Failure to properly control or dispose of industrial or residual waste to prevent pollution of the waters of the Commonwealth.	Corrected/Abated	$26,250
610142	1/28/2011	Failure to properly store, transport, process or dispose of a residual waste.	Corrected/Abated	$26,250

Source: PA DEP eFacts.

See Also

Centralized Impoundments