Pennsylvania Drilling Pollutes Private Wells

"WPX Energy Appalachia has paid a $1.2 million civil penalty for oil and gas violations that affected groundwater and private water supplies in Westmoreland County.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said money from the penalty will go to the state's well plugging fund, which plugs abandoned and orphaned oil and gas wells that have the potential to cause health, safety or environmental concerns.

The penalty amount is based on the impacts to the water supplies and the severity of the leak, according to the DEP.

In September 2012, testing of five private water supplies indicated that they were impacted by a leak from WPX Energy Appalachia's on-site impoundment into the groundwater. The incident occurred at a wellsite in Donegal Township in Westmoreland County."

Christian Alexandersen reports for Penn Live February 27, 2017.