Fish Kill Prompts Pa. to Seek Brine Well Shutdown
Philadelphia Inquirer
16 October 2009
The Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. - The federal government is considering a request to
shut down an underground coalbed-methane wastewater storage operation
that Pennsylvania officials suspect contributed to a massive fish kill.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency spokesman David Sternberg said
Friday that his agency is preparing a response to the Oct. 5 request
from Pennsylvania's environmental regulators.
Environmental officials in Pennsylvania and West Virginia are pursuing
the cause behind the death of fish, mussels, salamanders and other
aquatic life in Dunkard Creek.
The 38-mile creek meanders along the states' border.
A 2005 EPA permit allows a Consol Energy subsidiary to inject the brine
into underground caverns. The water is left over from methane drilling
on a closed coal mine.
A company spokesman says it doesn't believe the brine is the source of
the fish kill.