PA State EPA's Latest Brainstorm - Using Nat Gas Well Brine To Remove Ice From Roads

WELLSBORO - The state Department of Environmental Protection is considering allowing natural gas industry well brine - the chemical-laden water that comes out of wells - to be used on roads to control ice in winter. It also will consider allowing the byproduct to be used to control construction project dust in summer.

According to DEP spokesman Kevin Sunday, there already is a general permit in place that authorizes use of treated salt water that comes back from shallow-well drilling, but not deeper Marcellus Shale drilling. "This is from the conventional wells that were drilled into shallow well formations, a practice we have had for almost a decade," Sunday added. "Right now we have only four permit holders, three municipalities and a private contractor."

Those with current permits to apply the material on roads before and after snow and ice to reduce slippery conditions include Otto's Keystone in Pleasantville, Venango County; and three townships in Mercer County, including Greene Township, Liberty Township and Jefferson Township, Sunday said.

According to the permit requirements, which are strict, there is only so much per mile per lane they can use, he added. "There also are treatment standards as to what needs to be separated out of the waters before it goes on the road," Sunday added.

EDIT

Ed. - well OK then - as long as strict standards are in place!

http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/570670/DEP-considers-allowing-gas-well-water-on-roads-to-control-ice.html?nav=5011

that they use around here.

What's more, the sand creates maintenance headaches and increases dredging costs for coastal municipalities..

Or is it not a concern?

It's all good!

:silly:

Brilliant idea. :sarcasm:

Why restrict yourself to polluting the wells in the area
when you can totally screw up everyone else downstream
as well?

And, of course, seeing as how this pollution will be not only
legal but actively approved by the authorities, that digs away
at the foundations of the existing environmental laws that will
obviously be "unfairly" targetting the other polluters ...

:argh:

way to go, capitalism