HARRISBURG – State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) is petitioning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to overturn the permit issued in February for an injection well in Brady Township.
In a letter dated March 12, Gabler questioned the data used to evaluate the well’s potential impact on local drinking water sources and called for the permit to be denied. Here are excerpts from Gabler’s letter to the EPA:
“I am writing to request review by the Environmental Appeals Board of the Class II-D Injection Well permit that was issued by the Environmental Protection Agency for the Zelman No. 1 well. I previously testified that I believed that it would be irresponsible to approve a permit in this location, and I remain convinced that the proper decision in this matter would be to deny this permit application.
“In my verbal testimony at the EPA’s public hearing held in Luthersburg on Dec. 10, 2012, I expressed concern that nearly two dozen nearby homes rely on drinking water wells within one-quarter mile of the proposed injection site.
“Four of these residences are within 1,000 feet, which constitutes the presumptive liability radius under Title 58, Section 3218 of Pennsylvania law. The drinking water wells within this radius are significant cause for concern as to the potential impacts of this injection well.
“In their Response Summary, the EPA incorrectly noted on page 11, item 12 that there are no drinking water wells located within the one-quarter mile area of review; Such an inaccuracy calls into question the reliability of the data that was used in the issuance of the permit.”
If you have questions about this event or any legislative issue, please contact Gabler’s DuBois office at 814-375-4688 or his St. Marys office at 814-781-6301.
