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This
is a reduced version of the map that appears in the
Environmental Assessment which
shows the layout of the site and the locations where
water and soil samples (a total of 30) were taken.
Sample
numbers are shown in pink for concentrations of less
than 30 parts per million (ppm) for chloride. Red numbers
show locations where samples were between 30 and 499
ppm for chloride. Underlined red numbers show locations
where chloride concentrations were above 500 ppm.
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At
the western side of the site is the well access road
for 1492 and 731. This extremely steep road only had
a short section of gravel at the entrance. There was
no attempt to control sediment leaving the site and
entering the Pocatalico River (just beyond the blue
truck in the background).
The
large blue condensate storage tank had an adequate secondary
containment dike, but the operator breached the dike
(the trench is visible in this photo) and left the containment
like this for at least half a year. Because of the location
of the tank above the Pocatalico River and its size,
this is a clear violation of Federal law.
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This
photograph was taken in January 2009 of the pit, looking
east. Between our visit in November and when this photograph
was taken several slips had occurred. Most of the cut
slope slipped toward the pad and a slip of the fill slope
bisected the pit as seen here. The northern edge of the
pit is several feet below the elevation of the southern
edge and the existing freeboard is less than a foot. We
did not observe tears in the liner (the black plastic
in the photo). At this time the orange fencing surrounding
the pit was down. |
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This
photograph was taken in June of the slipped area of the
pit looking in the same direction as the previous photograph.
There is ponded water at this location though we never
saw water crossing the pad to here. We did observe water
running down the fill slope from the pit area. It was
this water that carried contaminants across the site from
the pit. |
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The
wellhead for 1492 is a simple affair. The operator used
plastic pipe to connect the wellhead to the pipeline. |
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This
photograph was taken on the pit's edge looking north across
the site. The log barrier is below, a ditch with water
is to the east of 731 (barely visible in this photograph)
and the separator (the gray tank). This ditch was the
primary avenue for water and contaminants leaving the
site. |
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This
is the same view, taken in June standing at the eastern
edge of the pit and shows how verdant this location
is. The river is obscured by the leafed out trees.
The
log sediment barrier in the foreground was at least
8 feet tall and sediment rose to its full height. The
amount of sediment unleashed during construction and
drilling of a well is measured in tons. The operator
never used a sediment control device between the edge
of the site and Poca River Road or between Poca River
Road and the River. If this were any other type of construction
this would be required by law. The EPA exempted oil
and gas.
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09_sheen.jpg) |
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Most
of the pollution on the site was invisible except in areas
directly affected by the flow of contamination from the
pit. Because of the colors we saw (bright orange water
and soil, for instance) we believe there was a high iron
content. Some bacteria are iron-loving and they create
a sheen similar to what is caused by oil on water. |
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This
is the location of sample W3, a water sample taken at
the spot of drainage through the log pile toward the
pad for 731 which sits below 1492.
This
water sample had a chloride concentration greater than
650 mg/l (or parts per million), the upper limit of
our test.
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To
the east of the well site is a wetland with large areas
of standing water. Molly in the red shirt is between where
we tested the water here (sample W13) and the fill slope
for 1492. Sample W13 showed a chloride concentration of
57 mg/l. We have never seen uncontaminated water or soil
have a chloride concentration above 30 ppm. |
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To
the west of the main flow of contamination from 1492's
pit we found elevated chloride concentrations at two
locations on the pad for 731, beyond the log pile.
This
is the sample location for W10 which found chloride
at 113 mg/l.
We
saw tadpoles at this spot. The state assumes that concentrations
of chloride below 230 ppm are not a danger, in spite
of the fact that chloride begins to adversely aquatic
species (some plankton) at 12 ppm.
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The
first photograph of this series shows the steep well
access road. This is of the culvert (nearly plugged
in January 2009) that passes under the access road (looking
west). Poca River Road is just to the right.
It
was obvious in January that mud was leaving the site
in huge quantities, with no serious attempt at management.
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This
is the same location but looking east. The operator
put three bales of straw in the mud to try to control
the sediment entering the culvert. The bales have been
entirely covered, the culvert is entirely blocked, and
the ditch that existed in November to the road and along
the road no longer exist because of the volume of sediment
leaving the site.
The
operator never considered and the state never required
a final sediment barrier between the road and the River.
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