Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 27, 1990 TAG: 9006270346
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE: CLINTWOOD LENGTH: Medium
"We have a history in this county that our water suddenly disappears," said Joseph Tate, a Dickenson supervisor representing the Ervinton District, where the well would go.
Such water losses usually coincide with nearby underground mining, he told representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency who were holding the hearing.
"Now this injection well, little as I know about it, seems to be another mystery in the making. And I don't think anyone in Dickenson County can afford another mystery as far as our underground water is concerned."
George Mason, representing Equitable Resources Exploration - known as Erex - which is seeking the EPA well permit, said the water from methane production has no impurities and could be safely disposed of with an injection well that would place the excess water more than 4,700 feet below ground.
Geologist Greg Mullins agreed that the procedure would be environmentally safe. But no one else did.
Brine byproducts will be hazardous to an already-fragile water supply, insisted Darlene Wilson, representing the Citizens Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste.
She said the General Assembly had provided several tax incentives for the production of methane gas in Virginia between now and 2001, and other gas wells are likely in the coalfields during that period, especially in the counties of Dickenson, Buchanan and Wise where most of the state's methane content lies. Erex could sell disposal rights at its Dickenson well to other developers, she said.
Wilson also expressed doubt that low-lying coal seams would remain unmined in the distant future, and she questioned the effect of such mining on a storage well.
Bernard Riley, president of the Dickenson County Citizens Committee organized to fight the well, said residents are not opposed to the development of natural gas production. It is only the disposal mechanism that concerns them, he said.
"The EPA has a very poor track record of cleaning up a mess, once it's made," said Craig Miano, whose wife is president of still another environmental group, the Health and Environmental Action League.
"You can't trust the EPA . . . The information they are going to deal with comes from the people who are going to cause the problem," Miano said. "If we don't raise some hell, the EPA's gonna give these people this permit, I guarantee it."
"They keep saying that this water is 100 percent pure. Let 'em pipe it into their faucet and drink it," said Alma Puckett.
Nancy Davis told the EPA representatives they were unwelcome because the matter should be settled by the state.
"This is a civil war. This is a family matter," Davis said. "You got no business here. Nobody asked you here except the industry."
Erex representatives outlined the procedure for using injection wells to about 40 people remaining after the hearing.
"I assure you that all of these comments will be afforded the most serious attention," EPA spokeswoman Karen Johnson told the crowd. She said additional written comments still could be sent to her before July 6 at EPA Region III, 841 Chestnut Building, Philadelphia, Pa. 19107.
by CNB