Nov 23, 2015 3 min read

Chesapeake Appalachia LLC agreed to pay a $1.4 million fine and complete additional work to restore streams impacted by a landslide more than four years ago at a well pad in Aleppo Township, according to a consent agreement announced Monday.

The landslide Sept. 15, 2011, at the company’s Stringer 8H gas well impacted seven unnamed tributaries of Harts Run. Dirt from the slide filled more than a quarter-mile of streams below the well pad, the state Department of Environmental Protection said.

DEP expects oil and gas operators to make all possible efforts to prevent violations and, if they do occur, to make timely restoration efforts, said John Ryder, DEP’s director for oil and gas operations.

“Washington and Greene counties are within one of the most landslide-prone areas in the nation and this landslide resulted in a significant impact to habitat and impairment of our waterways,” Ryder said in a written statement.

“Oil and gas operators must understand the landslide potential and exercise proper oversight in the design and construction of well sites to prevent slides from occurring,” he said.

Drilling was conducted at the site, however, the landslide did not result in a spill or release of any fracking fluids or other chemicals, DEP spokesman John Poister said. The violations are still considered serious, he said.

“Anytime you impact a quarter-mile of stream, anytime you have something like this, we are going to take it very seriously,” Poister said.

Chesapeake immediately began efforts to temporarily stabilize the site, although the company was unable to complete permanent stabilization until July 26, 2014, DEP said. Poister said DEP worked with the company and monitored its efforts, though the two initially disagreed on what had to be done to permanently restore the streams.

“There was some difference of opinion on how to proceed,” Poister said. “We felt there should be more work done so it stretched out for a while but, ultimately, they agreed to do the work,” he said.

Through the consent agreement, DEP and Chesapeake devised a plan and schedule for the company to complete restoration work on the impacted streams. Chesapeake began the process in March 2012 by filing a plan to clean up the streams and to permanently stabilize the slide area. The stabilization plan was approved by DEP and in September 2013 work on that plan was started.

While much of the work is completed, the consent agreement required Chesapeake to remove the remaining sediment from the streams and stabilize the banks of the headwater tributaries to Harts Run by Dec. 31, DEP said.

The company has until Sept. 30, 2016 to complete restoration of the Harts Run tributaries and make improvements to an off-site stream, it said. If Chesapeake fails to comply with the restoration schedules, additional penalties will be assessed, DEP said.

Chesapeake no longer operates the Stinger 8H well, which is now under the control of Rice Drilling B LLC.

“Chesapeake is pleased to resolve this matter and remains focused on addressing legacy issues,” Chesapeake spokesman Gordon Pennoyer said.