PA DEP Finally OKs Use of Big Sewickley Creek Water for Fracking

In 2021, PennEnergy Resources made a request to the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) to withdraw up to 3 million gallons of water a day from Big Sewickley Creek and one of its tributaries for shale fracking (see Dem PA Lawmaker Wants to Block Use of Creek Water for Fracking). In March 2022, PennEnergy reapplied for a permit to draw water, but this time, the request was cut in half to just 1.5 million gallons of water a day (see PennEnergy Reapplies to Use SWPA Creek Water for Fracking Ops). In July 2022, the application was finally christened as complete and ready for an official review (see PennEnergy Creek Water Request Now “Complete” – PA DEP Reviewing). And that's where it's been, hanging in limbo since then. Until yesterday, when the DEP notified those commenting on the application that it had been approved. Finally!

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