Attorney General Henry Announces Conviction in Water Contamination Case Against Western PA Natural Gas Supplier
HARRISBURG — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced that Greylock Production, LLC (Greylock), a natural gas energy production and delivery company, has pleaded no contest to multiple environmental violations stemming from the operation of several wells over a period of five years.
Greylock pleaded Tuesday to four counts of Clean Streams Act Violations and two Solid Waste Management Act Violations related to incidents that occurred in Greene County between 2015 and 2020.
As part of the sentence, the company was required to pay several fines, including $150,000 to the Clean Water Fund and $15,000 to the Solid Waste Fund. Additionally, it must pay $60,000 to the Chestnut Ridge Trout Unlimited Chapter #670 charity to benefit the Glade Run project and $50,000 to Stream Restoration Inc., charity to benefit the Maiden Creek stream restoration project. Furthermore, Greylock must conduct site investigations at six of its well pads to determine if further cleanup is required, with any necessary remediation to be carried out under the supervision of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
“Protecting Pennsylvania’s water and soil from contamination should be a top priority of any industry that is operating in Pennsylvania,” Attorney General Henry said. “This company was aware that there was water contamination that resulted from their operations, and not only failed to ensure adequate cleanup but used additional contaminants which hid the presence of the initial pollution event. My Office will remain dedicated to safeguarding and preserving our environment for current and future generations.”
The case was initially referred to the Office of Attorney General by the DEP. The subsequent investigation found that Greylock Production, LLC, which had purchased assets from Energy Corporation of America, often used unpermitted impoundments at unconventional well pads.
According to the investigation, Greylock became aware that many of these well pads had issues that caused leaks and contamination, including at least two at domestic water supplies. These instances were reported by local landowners. In one case, it was confirmed that pollutants meant to be confined to the well pad were leaking from numerous holes in the well pad’s liner.
The investigation also revealed that despite Greylock inheriting many of these issues they continued criminal conduct at a newer well pad that experienced a spill in February 2020 while newer wells were still being drilled on the pad.
The waste spilled ended up in an unnamed tributary. Evidence shows that Greylock management ordered an employee to spray a defoaming agent on rocks above the stream which removed evidence of the spill but left all pollutants in water.
The investigation also led criminal charges against two employees John David Sollon Jr., and Donald Supcoe III who were responsible for overseeing these projects. While Donald Supcoe is deceased John David Sollon Jr.’s case remains pending.
This case is being prosecuted by Chief Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Franz.
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