Rice Energy pays civil penalty for erosion at Greene County well site

The state Department of Environmental Protection announced Thursday that it has collected a $147,250 civil penalty from Rice Drilling for violations at a Greene County well site.
The penalty was because of erosion and sedimentation issues at the Mac well in Whiteley Township that led to three separate slides in 2019 and 2020, the DEP said.
The company attempted to make repairs, but a fourth slide occurred and allowed sediment and soil to move beyond its permitted area. The company stabilized the site in January 2021.
The money will be placed into the state’s Oil and Gas Program Fund.