Proposed Wysox recycling plant for gas industry would not discharge into sewer system

BY JAMES LOEWENSTEIN (STAFF WRITER)
thedailyreview.com
Published: December 26, 2009

WYSOX TOWNSHIP - Wysox Township is the preferred location for a plant that Eureka Resources LLC would construct to recycle waste water from hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus Shale, one of the owners of Eureka Resources said this week.

The plant, which would be located at the site of the Agway store on Sullivan Street in Wysox Township, would remove the salt, chemicals and other components from the waste water, said Daniel Ertel, one of the owners of Eureka Resources LLC.

All of the treated water would then be returned to gas well sites where it would be re-used in gas drilling operations, including hydraulic fracturing, he said.

The plant would not discharge any water or waste products into streams, rivers or sewer systems, he said.

"It will be a 100 percent recycling facility," he said.

Wysox Zoning Permit Officer Frank Hoffmann was incorrect when he stated at the Dec. 15 Wysox Township supervisors' meeting that there would be treated water from the plant "funneled into the sewer system," Ertel said.

The plant would initially be able to treat 113,400 gallons of water per day, said Ertel, who is a resident of Williamsport.

The treatment process at the plant would produce "distilled water," he said.

The plant would use a "vapor compressor distiller" to remove components from the water during the treatment process, he said.

The treatment process that would be used at the plant is currently being used in other states, but is not yet used in Pennsylvania, he said.

Eureka Resources currently owns and operates a treatment plant in Williamsport, he said.

Eureka is planning to purchase the property where the Agway store is located, he said.

"We will use part of the existing building (at the site) and build an addition (as well)," he said.

"The sale of the property is pending," he said.

To construct and operate the recycling plant, Eureka will need to obtain permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, a special exception permit from the Wysox Township Zoning Hearing Board, and a building permit, he said.

Eureka has not yet applied for any of the permits, according to Ertel and Hoffmann.

Ertel said that, besides himself, Eureka Resources has two other principals, who live in Williamsport.

Eureka plans to release more information on the proposed plant at a later date, Ertel said.

Eureka wants to "try to keep people informed" about the plant, he said.

A phone message left Wednesday for Dean Sanderson, who owns the Agway store, was not returned.

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