Couple sues Range Resources over fluid leak affecting them and their kennel operation
Buffalo Township residents who operate a kennel filed suit this week in Washington County Court over the leak of “fracking” fluids from a neighbor’s Marcellus Shale natural gas well installation they said engulfed their property last year.
Keith and Lesa Stanley, owners of a home, detached garage and South Sunset Beach Boarding Kennel, sued Range Resources-Appalachia LLC over an incident the night of Jan. 28, 2018, originating on the property of Michael G. Brownlee.
According to the suit, the neighboring property has a well pad on an “artificially constructed hill” containing a host of storage tanks for fluids, storm water, water contaminated with brine, and other materials used to fracture deep strata in the extraction of natural gas.
The Stanleys assert that mature trees, timber, grass and soil were washed away and that 2.9 million pounds of contaminated soil had to be removed, most of it from their 46-acre property.
They said they faced the risk of contamination to their drinking water supply; that they were unable to fully operate their kennel, built in 2007, for nearly two months; and that the spill devalued their property.
The Stanleys claim the episode caused them mental anguish, anxiety, sleeplessness and headaches.
According to documents accompanying the suit, the state Department of Environmental Protection began an investigation the next morning, finding four environmental violations related to contamination within the watershed of Buffalo Creek.
Weavertown Environmental was on the site, having set up two sumps to capture the flow and was preparing a remediation plan, according to the DEP reports. The inspector did not observe any dead aquatic creatures.
The regulatory agency issued a well permit in November 2013, noting in correspondence filed with the prothonotary that the permit was granted in a specially protected watershed that drained “to streams which are classified by the Environmental Quality Board as either high quality or exceptional value due to their unique characteristics or sensitive use.”
The letter sought to remind the recipient “of the necessity to adequately control and dispose of waste fluids generated from your activities at this location. It is expected that you will conduct your activities with these concerns in mind.”
The Stanleys are seeking a jury trial and monetary damages.
“We are not aware of this lawsuit nor have we received any documentation of this lawsuit to date,” wrote Mark Windle, manager of corporate communications, public, community and government relations for Range Resources, in response to an emailed request for comment.