DEP orders gas company to monitor air quality in area of leak

2nd UPDATE|

Cambria Co., PA (WJAC) — Authorities with the Department of Environmental Protection provided a statement to 6 News Wednesday, confirming that it has ordered the Equitrans Midstream gas company to conduct an air quality check in the area of Rager Mountain where a natural gas leak was reported Sunday night.

DEP officials say they also ordered the company to conduct a gas mitigation investigation.

On Sunday, November 6, 2022, DEP personnel responded to a report of a well control incident in Jackson Township, Cambria County. Equitrans LP’s George L Reade 1 storage well is currently venting natural gas that is uncontrolled into the atmosphere from Equitrans’ Rager Mountain storage field. Equitrans has brought in a well control company to stop the flow of gas from the well. DEP will maintain a 24/7 presence on site until the situation is under control. DEP has requested that Equitrans set up air monitoring in the area and initiate a gas migration investigation pursuant to 25 Pa. Code 78.89. DEP has requested additional information from the operator as part of its ongoing investigation.

The leak, which was first reported over the weekend, is under investigation and authorities reported earlier in the week that it "posed no threat to the public."

Officials have not yet confirmed whether the leak has been repaired.

DEP officials also say that they ordered a temporary flight restriction in the area, which is scheduled to last until 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10th.

UPDATE |

6 News spoke with local officials Monday about the ongoing investigation into a natural gas leak in Cambria County that began over the weekend.

Authorities with the Cambria County Department of Emergency Services announced Sunday night that the high-pressure leak occurred at a natural gas station along Dishong Mountain Road.

The company who owns and operates the gas well, Equitrans Midstream, as well as county emergency officials say they do not yet know what caused the leak but they continue to stress that there are no threat or safety concerns for nearby residents.

However, several residents reached out to our newsroom to express their displeasure with the loud hissing sound that the leak is making and the consistent smell of natural gas in the area.

Officials we spoke with on Monday say the leak "poses no threat to the public" because it is in an isolated area.

Investigators say if the leak had occurred in a more populated area, then evacuations would have been ordered.

“There were no reports of any injuries, evacuations of property owners were not necessary and there were no immediate public safety concerns.”

An Equitrans company spokesperson confirmed that the gas is leaking from a storage facility located in the area of Rager Mountain/Dishong Mountain Road, near Route 22, and that the loud, hissing sound is being cause by the venting gas.

“They (crews) have deployed the necessary equipment to restrict the venting gas, and it is expected to take 24-48 hours to set up and halt the venting. Once the venting is halted, they will do a thorough and complete root cause analysis.”

Local residents can call 888-574-6944, which is an active community hotline available to provide general updates about the gas leak or other concerns.

ORIGINAL |

Authorities in Cambria County are investigating a high pressure leak at a natural gas station along Dishong Mountain Road.

Officials with the Cambria County Department of Emergency Services posted to social media Sunday night that representatives were on scene and were awaiting the arrival of a contractor to assist in shutting off the pipeline.

According to the local fire department and the gas company, authorities say there is no threat to the public and nearby residents should expect to hear a loud hissing noise until the leak is stopped and repaired.

6 News is working to learn more information about what caused the leak.

Stay with us online and on-air for updates.

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