History is Often the Best Judge:
Despite the oil & gas industry and regulators pushing a story that injection wells meet strict safety standards, citizen complaints to the DEP offer a glimpse into how those standards fail to protect water.
Public Herald’s latest RTK of DEP’s citizen complaint records uncovered 18 complaints (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11CM8KWN_mvvvbDM9FCjRHkA8m-qJ6fezOyJuiF2vcSE/edit#gid=1689475627) from 2016 to 2021 for underground injection control (UIC) wells, 15 of which included water pollution concerns (83% of complaints)”
Eight of the 18 injection well complaints resulted in violations to the commonwealth’s Clean Streams Law. But at five more injection wells, DEP inspectors found Clean Streams Law violations and chose not to issue citations, which makes the real total of complaints with Clean Streams Law violations 13 of 18 complaints.
Pennsylvania’s Auditor General and Attorney General take: “Despite decades of documentation and scathing reviews by Pennsylvania’s Auditor General and Attorney General, DEP still does not use its authority to set limits on radium from oil and gas waste in NPDES discharge permits.
When asked if DEP could require radium monitoring for facilities like Eureka’s, EPA responded via email, “[M]onitoring for those constituents is not required under the federal regulations. However, state permit writers can require additional monitoring in permits issued to specific direct discharging facilities.”
In other words, the Pennsylvania DEP could be eliminating the threat of radium in waterways. They’ve simply been choosing not to.”
TOTALLY NINJA RACCOONS HUNT TO END THIS SATURDAY, JULY 29, TURN IN PASSPORTS BY 6 P.M.
Bookstore Manager Kasey Coolidge and her husband Kevin Coolidge, owner of From My Shelf Books & Gifts and author of the 10-book Totally Ninja Raccoons series, hold three toy raccoons they use to represent the three raccoon brothers that Kevin writes about.
PRESS RELEASE:
The hunt for the Totally Ninja Raccoons at 30 participating businesses in the Wellsboro area ends this Saturday, July 29. By 6 p.m. that night, all participants must turn in their passports at From My Shelf Books & Gifts at 7 East Avenue in Wellsboro to be eligible for prizes.
Among the prizes are $100 in cash, gift certificates and items donated by participating businesses, and Wellsboro Chamber Dollars.
Town Square Concert In Port Allegany July 27
July 27th this Thursday will be the free Town Square Concert at the gazebo in Port Allegany. Starting at 6:00pm the performance will be Jonathan Meade who is a local favorite. His requested bookings cover three counties and beyond. The hot dogs will be on the grill and cold beverages available for purchase with the Women’s Club hosting the food table. Bring a lawn chair and come enjoy the cool breezes of the evening. See you on the square!
Jerry M. “Bubba” Blum, Jr., 27, of 3054 Budde Road, Franklinville, NY.
Jerry M. “Bubba” Blum: Loving Son, Brother, Grandson, and Uncle
Jerry M. “Bubba” Blum, Jr., 27, of 3054 Budde Road, Franklinville, passed away from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Sunday, July 23, 2023 in Salamanca.
Born on December 16, 1995, in Olean, he was a son of Jerry M. Blum, Sr. and Sherry Homuth.
Jerry was a graduate of Ten Broeck Academy Class of 2015.
He had several jobs throughout the years, but especially enjoyed working on farms and being outdoors. He also was a substitute cleaner for Ten Broeck Academy.
Jerry loved hunting, fishing, and listening to classic country music. He always enjoyed wearing his cowboy hat.
He is survived by
His Mother and Stepfather Sherry (George) Blum-Trummer of Franklinville
His Father Jerry M. Blum, Sr. Kane, PA
2 Sisters Ashley (Brandon) Dearborn Port Allegany, PA
Jen Blum Franklinville
His maternal grandparents David (Luanna) Homuth Cuba
2 Nephews Elliott Cashmere and Jericho Dearborn
A Niece Daneliya Dearborn
He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents Gerald and Rosemarie Bailey.
Friends will be received at the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., Cuba on Friday, July 28, 2023 from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M., where funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. Pastor Claudia Little, will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Franklinville Conservation Club, Trap League, 3040 Bakerstand Road, Franklinville, NY 14737.
Lucille M. (Mitchell) Keck, 93, formerly of Wellsboro, PA
Lucille M. (Mitchell) Keck, 93, formerly of Wellsboro, PA passed away Friday July 21, 2023 at Linwood Nursing and Rehabilitation in Scranton, PA.
She was born August 14, 1929, at home, in Morris Run, to William and Stella (Novitski) Mitchell.
She graduated from Morris Run High School, and on December 28, 1967, married Richard Keck, with whom she shared 53 wonderful years of marriage.
McKean County Drug Task Force, Bradford City Cops and County Detectives Execute Search Warrant After Crack Cocaine Buy by Confidential Informant
(McKEAN COUNTY, Pennsylvania, July 24, 2023): McKean County District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that Detectives with the McKean County Detective Bureau along with Officers with the McKean County Drug Task Force and City Bradford Police executed a search warrant on July 23, 2023 at a hotel room at the Quality Inn.
According to the criminal complaint, Detectives learned that Frank Edward Nash (last known address of Bradford) was communicating with an informant working with the McKean County Drug Task Force. The complaint alleges that Nash sold crack cocaine to the informant in a controlled buy.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for the hotel room used by Nash and, after Nash sold crack cocaine a second time to the informant, the Detectives and Officers executed a search warrant at the hotel along with County Detective Bureau K9 “Rigby.”
Upon entry into the room, they found Nash in possession of approximately 40 grams of additional crack cocaine and $3445 cash.
McKean County Drug Task Force Detective Kolin Strawcutter charged Nash with 2 counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance (crack cocaine) (Felonies), 2 counts of Possession of Crack Cocaine (Misdemeanors), and 2 counts of Criminal Use of a Communication Facility (Felony 3).
DA Shaffer thanked the Detectives and Officers involved in the investigation and execution of the search warrant.
An additional charge of Possession with the Intent to Deliver (Felony) is pending to be added to the criminal complaint due to the amount of crack cocaine Detectives noted in the search warrant.
Nash was arraigned by on-call District Magistrate Richard Luther who set bail at $250,000 straight. Nash was remanded to the McKean County Jail.
If you suspect illegal drug activity, please contact in McKean County in Drug Task Force at (814)887-3312 or McKeanDA.org
Terry C. Browning, age 64, of Wellsboro, PA
Terry C. Browning, age 64, of Wellsboro, PA, died on Thursday, July 20, 2023.
He was born on April 5, 1959 in Justice, WV a son of the late George A. Browning and Lois M. (Wolford) Browning.
Terry served in the US Army and was married to the late Deborah L. (Rawson) Browning. He worked at the Tioga County Prison for over 35 years, retiring as the Prison Warden.
Douglass Hannon, 21, of Bradford, PA
Robert J. Douglass Hannon, 21, of Bradford, PA passed away Thursday, July 20, 2023, at Rochester General, Rochester, Monroe County, NY.
Born January 6, 2002, in Hagerstown, MD, he was a son of Jeannie (Taylor) Hannon and Robert Hannon, Sr.
Doug was a 2020 graduate of Bradford High School, where he was Quarterback for the football team, wrestled, and played on the travel soccer team.
He enjoyed watching the New England Patriots and anything to do with Tom Brady. He also enjoyed his corgis, Lily and Lou.
Doug was employed as a General Laborer for Bernie Giest Builders.
Surviving are his mother Jeannie (Richard Kirtz) Hannon, his father Robert J. Hannon Sr., Doug’s fiancée, Haley Leet, whom he resided with, three sisters, Kat Newton, Jessica Hannon, and Aroura Distrola, two brothers, Kristopher Taylor, and Brodie Distrola, grandparents, Christine Douglass Hannon, Karen Newton Pennington, William Douglass, and Brenda and Derek Thorne, four aunts, Melissa Hannon, Kylie (Seth) McMcleary, Brittany Taylor, and Melissa (Josh Everly) Wright, three uncles, Joey (Bethany) Hannon, Bryan (Nichole) Taylor, and Caleb (Sam) Pennington, cousins, Abby (Aaron), Griffin, Jaden, Seth, Kody, Hailey, Wyatt, Donovan, Sam, Matt, and Braedon, and several great aunts and uncles, and many friends, including his best friend Ayron Hart.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Joseph G. Hannon, great grandparents, Matthew and Beverly Hannon, Dayle and Jean Newton, Edith and Myron Taylor, and two cousins, Bryan Timothy Hannon and Hope Everly.
Family will receive friends on Thursday July 27, 2023, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes, Inc. 33 South Avenue, and again on Friday from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the funeral home, followed by funeral services Father Jim Gutting, officiating. Burial will be in St. Bernard Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to Christine Hannon at 46 Calvin Court, Bradford PA to defray burial expenses.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com
Stephen J. Ackerman, II, 35, of Bradford, PA Celebration of Life
Stephen J. Ackerman, II, 35, of Bradford, PA passed away Saturday, June 3, 2023.
Friends of Stephen J. Ackerman, 35, of Bradford, are invited to attend a Celebration of Stephen’s Life on Friday July 28, 2023, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Mystic Waters Resort, 620 Parkside Drive, Limestone NY, 14753. Please RSVP Robin at 814-598-9613.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com
PUBLIC HEARING TUESDAY ON CLARA TOWNSHIP INJECTION WELL IN COUDERSPORT
PA DEP to host public hearing on proposed Clara Township, Potter County injection well on Tuesday evening, July 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the Gunzburger County Office Building located at 1 North Main Street, Coudersport in Potter County Pennsylvania.
Clara Township residents have been battling this dumping of drilling waste for a couple of years. Everyone is invited to attend this hearing to help tiny Clara Township fight the potential pollution of their water sources.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) there are currently 344 wells in the company’s inventory,
including 340 active wells, 3 abandoned wells and 1 plugged well.
DEP’s database indicates Roulette Oil and Gas has stored (or stockpiled) waste at well sites “pending disposal or reuse” for 112 wells!!!!
These waste reports are available on the DEP’s Oil and Gas Waste Report page: https://greenport.pa.gov/ReportExtracts/OG/OilGasWellWasteReport
Clara Twp is located only 6.2 mi from the New York State border and is in the Upper Allegheny River Watershed.
Allegheny River: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegheny_River
Clara Township has an Injection Well Ordinance:
1987 Clara Township Injection Well Ordinance: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IbcK8LjcE5uT04E0SCCVH8_8tMmiWwjDFv_zsYDID4c/edit?usp=sharing
In 2023 the injection well ordinance was amended:
Amendment to the Clara Township Injection Well Ordinance: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IbcK8LjcE5uT04E0SCCVH8_8tMmiWwjDFv_zsYDID4c/edit?usp=sharing