The Preston County Solid waste Authority voted 3-0 to not change a site plan to allow for the development of a landfill that would have accepted Marcellus waste products.  The proposed 200 acre landfill would have been situated at the confluence of the Little Sandy and Big Sandy streams.  Approximately 30 local residents attended the PCSWA meeting.  None raised a hand when a show of hands was asked of those in favor of the landfill.

Friends of the Cheat Executive Director Amanda Pitzer shared the concerns of the FOC and the residents that the landfill would threaten the water quality of the streams.  Big Sandy is a tributary of the Cheat River and a popular boating and fishing stream.  After restoration efforts, the Big Sandy is close to being removed from the WVDEP’s list of impaired streams.

Full Story in Dominion Post (subscription required), July 7, 2011

The lower Cheat River watershed is now challenged by an influx of Marcellus shale natural gas development.  An article and map have been prepared by the Friends of the Cheat (FOC) to illustrate how these sites are concentrated, many on quality streams.  As of early April, there have been over 50 Marcellus related gas permits issued in Preston County.

Also, construction has commenced on a natural gas gathering pipeline running south from the WV/PA line northeast of Bruceton Mills. Superior Appalachian Pipeline Company of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, broke ground for a 16-mile natural gas project on March 1^st.  Superior said the area has had limited ability to transport natural gas, and the new pipeline will make that easier. 

Further, rumors of a commercial solid waste facility to accept the dried byproduct of produced water swirled last summer.  An article in the Morgantown Dominion Post on July 28, 2010 said that the rumors of a new landfill for Marcellus drilling wastes near Bruceton Mills had raised concerns among local citizens. And, on April 29, 2011 this same newspaper reported that a meeting was underway with the WV-DEP in Charleston to discuss such a landfill with an unidentified company.  It was reported that the WV Public Service Commission would not approve a landfill without the approval of the Preston County Solid Waste Authority. 

This region’s oil and gas inspector has over 5,000 wells on his roster and the development of many new wells is just getting started.  FOC works each day to remediate the impacts of pre-regulatory coal mine pollution. Over $50 million has been spent cleaning up these impacts in the Cheat River watershed and some 14 treatment systems have been installed.  The progress that has been made to clean up the Cheat River and Cheat Lake is now at stake.  “Let’s take our time and do it right this time,” said Amanda Pitzer, Executive Director of the Friends of the Cheat.  She said that “We can all wait. The gas will still be 8,000 feet under our beautiful mountain homes in the mean time.”