U.S. government sues Sunoco for pipeline spill
Thursday, April 20, 2017
The United States government filed suit against Sunoco over a pipeline rupture that allowed thousands of gallons of gasoline to contaminate waterways in Lorain County in 2012, according to The Plain Dealer.
The spill forced the evacuation of 70 residents after coming up through a Wellington Township Service garage. The gas pooled as deep as six inches before flowing into two waterways, the White Ditch and the Black River. The spill polluted the water and harmed wildlife, according to the lawsuit.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that Sunoco violated the Clean Water Act and could force it to pay up to $1,100 per barrel of oil in damages. The costs could add up to $2.15 million total.
Learn more: The Plain Dealer > U.S. government sues Sunoco over rupture in gas pipeline that caused 2012 spill in Lorain County
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.