PHILADELPHIA — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a Clean Water Act settlement with Fluid Recovery Services LLC (FRS), which operates three wastewater treatment plants in western Pennsylvania, according to a press release.
The settlement resolves discharge permit violations associated with the treatment of wastewater generated from oil and gas extraction activities, stated the release.
Under the settlement, FRS must seek renewal of their Clean Water Act discharge permits from Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and request that PADEP include the more stringent discharge limits in Pennsylvania’s wastewater treatment standards.
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This includes a new standard of 500 milligrams per liter for total dissolved solids in their renewed permits, noted the release.
In addition, the company will pay an $83,000 penalty for violations that occurred at facilities located in Franklin, Creekside and Josephine, Pa.
FRS will invest as much as $30 million to upgrade the facilities to comply with the new more stringent discharge limits.
Meeting the more stringent discharge limits will enable the facilities to be eligible to treat wastewater from unconventional oil and gas extraction activities, such as hydrofracking.
Read the entire press release here.
