Pa. firm fined $150K for natural gas pipeline work

Pennsylvania firm fined $150,000 for natural gas pipeline pollution violations

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has fined a company $150,000 for pollution violations that occurred during construction of a natural gas pipeline.

DEP says in a Monday statement that they documented multiple violations of the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law and other environmental regulations by PVR Marcellus Gas Gathering LLC. The violations in four Lycoming County townships began in September 2011 and weren't completely addressed until the following March.

DEP spokesman John Ryder says the violations impacted High Quality streams but there do not appear to be any long-term impacts. The 13-mile, 30-inch diameter pipeline crosses Cogan House, Cummings, Lycoming, and Mifflin townships.

PVR Marcellus says that the events occurred during "extraordinary" rainfall from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee and that they regret the problems and respect DEP's work.