WATER MANAGEMENT WATER MANAGEMENT PLANSPLANS

Jan 12, 2010an 12, 2010

Susan K. Weaver, P.E.Susan K. Weaver, P.E.Division Chief, Water Use PlanningDivision Chief, Water Use Planning

PA DEPPA DEP

PA Laws and RegulationsPA Laws and Regulations Laws

Oil and Gas Act Clean Streams Law Water Resources Planning Act

Regulations Chapter 78 Chapters 93 and 96 Chapter 110

Water Management Plan (WMP)Water Management Plan (WMP) The Department issues gas permits under the Oil

and Gas Act which requires compliance with other laws administered by DEP.

The Department requires a demonstration, through the submission and approval of a Water Management Plan in connection with the gas well permit, that the gas well operator's withdrawal and use of water sources in the Commonwealth in connection with natural gas well development will not violate the Clean Streams Law's admonition against pollution.

Statewide ImplementationStatewide Implementation

WMP process to provide framework for statewide consistency

DEP using the SRBC Passby Flow Guidelines statewide

Working closely with River Basin Commission staff

The development of a plan that identifies various water sources proposed to be used for utilization in development of Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Wells within the covered area.

Allow operator flexibility to update the plan as needed.

Purpose of WMPPurpose of WMP

River Basin Commission River Basin Commission InteractionInteraction

To reduce duplication, if a water source is subject to approval by SRBC or DRBC, the River Basin Commission approvals will be captured in a Water Management Plan and submitted to DEP.

The Department will rely upon the information gathered, data analyses performed and expertise of the SRBC and DRBC regarding the proposed water source but will reserve for itself the ultimate decision and exercise its independent judgment concerning whether or not to approve the Water Management Plan.

WMP ContentWMP Content

Municipal and county notification Identification of sources Water Source and Use Monitoring Plan Registration and Reporting

48-hour source initiation notice prior to first withdrawal

Assessment of impact to environment Low flow analysis PNDI

Identification of PWSAs

WMP ContentWMP Content(continued)(continued)

WATER SOURCESWATER SOURCES Public Water Supplies Surface Water or Groundwater Wastewater, Mine Water, Cooling Water

Discharge Reuse of flowback

Water Source and Use Water Source and Use Monitoring PlanMonitoring Plan

Accurate monitoring of the amount of water withdrawn on a daily basis

Daily recording and maintenance of data

Water withdrawal data to be maintained for five years and be available to DEP for review upon request.

Passby Flow Monitoring if required

Registration and ReportingRegistration and Reporting All sources must be registered Quarterly submittal of Sub Facility

Reports using the DEP Greenport Annual submittal of Primary Facility

Reports using DEP Greenport- still on hold

Surface Water SourcesSurface Water Sources

Rivers Streams Lakes Large Ponds

Surface WaterSurface Water Location Stream Classification- Special

Protection Water (High Quality or Exceptional Value)

Low Flow Conditions - Q7-10 Is 10% of the Q7-10 economically viable

Storage Location

Q 7-10Q 7-10 Low Flow Condition Flow rate that occurs for 7 consecutive days

during a 10-year period (Q7-10) at the proposed intake location.

In many cases, permissible amount 10% of Q7-10

Example – A point on the Susquehanna River has a Q7-10 of 0.155 mgd (determined from StreamStats). Proposed maximum instantaneous rate of withdrawal would be 0.0155 mgd.

Surface WaterSurface Water Pass by Flow 20% of average daily flow withdraw

Existing upstream or downstream gauging stations

USGS or other established gauging systems Fixed water level marker (mark on a bridge)

SteamStatsSteamStats

GroundwaterGroundwater Location Droughts

Stream Impact Hydrogeologist Groundwater Characterization Ownership of the Well PADEP Time frame ~6 months

Other Water SourcesOther Water Sources

Wastewater Leachate from Landfill POTW Effluent

Mine Water AMD

Cooling Water Discharge Reuse of flowback

Emerging IssuesEmerging Issues Working with USACE to define “area of

influence” around USACE reservoirs Management of Aquatic Invasive

Species Revision to DEP Well Site Restoration

Report underway to capture similar information to SRBC Post-Hrdrofracture Stimulation Report

Questions?Questions?