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Pennsylvania General Energy of Warren is suing a township in Indiana County, claiming an ordinance passed to ban the disposal of drilling byproducts is illegal and, that federal and state laws nullify it anyway. The ordinance and resulting lawsuit were sparked by PGE's plans to convert an old underground natural gas well to an injection well, where the company could dispose of briny water and other fluids from drilling. Grant Township supervisors say they haven’t seen the lawsuit yet, but have say their own lawyer had told them the ordinance may be illegal. The supervisors are meeting tomorrow to decide whether to rescind the ordinance or defend it in court. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

PITTSBURGH -- The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is fining Halliburton Energy Services $1.8 million for 255 violations of the Solid Waste Management Act between 1999 and 2011. DEP became aware of the violations in 2011 during an inspection of the facility, and further investigation revealed violations dating back to 1999. “Our regulations are in place to protect the health and safety of our residents and to preserve our environmental resources,” DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. “Halliburton’s repeated disregard of these regulations is unacceptable.” The violations occurred when the company, at its Homer City facility in Indiana County, stored, treated and transported waste hydrochloric acid without obtaining proper permits from DEP. During the 12-year time period, Halliburton transported acidic waste, which had originated from various gas well sites, without identifying the waste as “hazardous waste,” without proper hazardous waste trucking records, and without usin...