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A Canadian gas drilling company is paying more than $62,000 in fines for not filing safety information about hazardous chemicals stored at sites in Pennsylvania. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says in a news release that Talisman Energy USA discovered the violations at 52 gas drilling sites and reported them to the agency. The EPA says Talisman, corrected the violations quickly. EPA says compliance with these requirements is important for the health and safety of facility occupants and first responders in the event of discharge or accidental exposure to hazardous chemicals. The required information also provides valuable information to emergency planners. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

WILLIAMSPORT -- The Department of Environmental Protection has fined RW Products LLC of Wheeling, W. Va., $21,029 for the illegal disposal of a reported 800 gallons of waste drilling mud on State Game Lands 219 in Warren Township, Bradford County, in December 2011. “A driver for RW Products admitted that he intentionally dumped a load of oil-based waste drilling mud onto the ground,” North-central Waste Management Program Manager Patrick Brennan said. “This violated the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act and the department’s penalty reflects this blatant disregard for the environment.” The drilling mud was transported about 2.3 miles from Talisman Energy USA’s Strope gas well pad to Reagan Hill Road, where it was illegally dumped. Talisman conducted the cleanup of the mud and contaminated soil, which was properly disposed at the Hyland Landfill in Angelica, New York. The fine has been paid to the state’s Solid Waste Abatement Fund. The driver was arrested by the Pennsylvania State...

A man who worked at a Marcellus Shale gas well in Bradford County has been charged for dumping 800 gallons of hazardous materials from the drilling site. State police say 27-year-old Josh Foster of Temple, Georgia, admitted to dumping the black, sludge-like chemicals on state game lands while working for Talisman Energy at one of its drill sites near the dump location. An internal investigation by Talisman led police to Foster, who is jailed on $100,000 bail. The original news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947