Green Space

PA DEP says radioactivity in Marcellus streams is below normal

Water quality tests conducted on seven Pennsylvania rivers designed to detect potential impacts of natural gas drilling show that levels of radioactivity are at or below normal levels.

6 comments

PA DEP says radioactivity in Marcellus streams is below normal

POSTED: Monday, March 7, 2011, 2:32 PM

Sandy Bauers, Inquirer GreenSpace Columnist

In-stream water quality tests conducted on seven Pennsylvania rivers and designed to detect potential impacts of natural gas drilling show that levels of radioactivity are at or below normal levels, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The DEP conducted the testing last November and December. It announced the results this morning, although it has not yet released the actual data.

Officials said the monitors were placed downstream of wastewater treatment plants that accept flowback and production water from drilling sites in the productive Marcellus shale formation that underlies much of the state.

The seven rivers monitored are in western and north-central Pennsylvania, where drilling activity has been heavy.

DEP Acting Secretary Michael Krancer said, “We deal in facts based on sound science. Here are the facts: All samples were at or below background levels of radioactivity.” All were below federal drinking water standards, he said.

The announcement came after a New York Times story on Feb. 27 reported that some radioactive water is sent to wastewater plants that can’t remove it, and then is discharged into waterways. Downstream, the water is withdrawn for drinking water by facilities that don’t test for radioactivity, the Times reported.

The western rivers with testing stations were: the Monongahela at Charleroi in Allegheny County; South Fork Ten Mile Creek in Greene County; Conemaugh in Indiana County; Allegheny at Kennerdell in Venango County; Beaver in Beaver County.

The north central rivers were Tioga in Tioga County and the West Branch of the Susquehanna in Lycoming County.

The Inquirer is following this story and will have a more complete report in tomorrow's newspaper and online.

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Comments (6)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:29 PM, 03/07/2011

If that's true, that's certainly good news.

— HandNik

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:15 PM, 03/07/2011

While I am all for energy independence, there is something evil lurking in the Marcellus Shale drilling. Stay tuned.

— FletcherT

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:09 PM, 03/08/2011

Most people do not know it, but with the large amount of uranium, irridium and radon in PA's rock, you will always have a tiny amount in every stream. What matters is the change from before the drilling to now.

— Dutch-wayne

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:35 PM, 03/10/2011

Propaganda at it's best. 2 days post budget and let me guess that the head of DEP is in the pocket of Corbett?

— dmbrennan

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:13 PM, 03/10/2011

Look up the movie gasland. its a documentary on the natural gas drilling process and the effects it has on the environment. all the government agenies and politicians are either corrupt or paid off to ignore the repercussions of gas drilling. corbett is allowint the natural gas industry to drill right here in PA and not have to pay taxes. educate yourself. that movie inspired me to.

— emcee215

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:28 PM, 03/10/2011

Where are the envoronmentalists praising the companies for responsibly extracting the much needed natural gas? Or are they just around to be negative?

I, for one, would like to thank the companies for being responsible without needing an oversight committee.

— k4291bin

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About this blog

Sandy Bauers is the environment reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where she has worked for more than 20 years as a reporter and editor. She lives in northern Chester County with her husband, two cats, a large vegetable garden and a flock of pet chickens.

GreenSpace - her column about how to reduce your carbon footprint in everyday life - appears every other Monday in Health & Science. Reach Sandy at sbauers@phillynews.com.