The effect a local drilling controversy is having on Bradford
City Water Authority property and water was the chief topic of the
board’s monthly meeting Tuesday.

The Department of Environmental Protection announced Friday that
it was issuing a cease-and-desist order against U.S. Energy due to
302 environmental violations from Aug. 7, 2007, to June 30 this
year in Warren and McKean counties. As a result, the Getzville,
N.Y.-based company had to stop all its drilling in
Pennsylvania.

U.S. Energy placed about 45 wells on 30 acres of Bradford City
Water Authority property, according to Kim Benjamin, water
authority executive director. The value of timber cut down in the
area was $63,815; Benjamin said the authority has only been
reimbursed for $47,926.80 of that so far.

U.S. Energy had been drilling at the Bradford watershed’s
eastern sector since late 2007, according to Benjamin. The company
has also applied for 40 wells on the western side, which drains
into the Gilbert and Marilla reservoirs.

“It’s a very sensitive area for the water authority,” Benjamin
said.

The authority owns surface rights in the 8,000-acre watershed,
but not all of the mineral rights. U.S. Energy also doesn’t own the
rights, but the company is acting on behalf of some owners to
search for oil and gas.

So far, the drilling has apparently not affected Bradford’s
drinking water quality. The violations range from improperly
handling erosion and sedimentation to not obtaining proper
permits.

Of the 302 violations, a DEP spokesman said recently that about
one-third had been taken care of. DEP has given U.S. Energy 30 days
to correct the rest.

Joseph Jayson, chief executive officer of U.S. Energy,
criticized the decision, saying that the DEP hasn’t made itself
available for discussion and that his company has already been
complying by making improvements.

Jayson apparently planned to fight the DEP’s order during a
meeting Tuesday between the two entities. However, Jayson could not
be reached by The Era for comment Monday or Tuesday.

“What happens next? It depends on the DEP’s reaction and how
U.S. Energy reacts to the cease-and-desist order,” Benjamin
said.

In other business, the authority announced its application for a
$195,000 safe water grant through State Rep. Martin Causer,
R-Turtlepoint, to bring city water to the disgruntled residents of
Hedgehog Lane.

In May, Ohio-based Schreiner Oil and Gas Inc. was deemed
responsible for contaminating seven water wells on Hedgehog Lane
due to drilling over the last several months. Benjamin specified
that the grant would only go toward about 15 lower-elevation homes
on the hilly road.

Previous reports, though, have indicated that the state will not
release any such funding due to Pennsylvania’s ongoing budget
struggles.

“At this point, we’re going to wait and see what happens with
our application,” Benjamin said.

Also Tuesday, the authority revealed winning bids for the
supplying of water treatment plant chemicals for the rest of
2009.

JCI Jones Chemical Co. of Caledonia, N.Y., submitted the low bid
of $5,600 to provide liquid chlorine to the plant. K A Steel
Chemicals of Lemont, Ill., submitted a low bid of $8,820 to supply
caustic soda to the authority.