"Frack Times" Lathrop Compressor Station "BlowDown"
Channel: Leland T Snyder
Date: 23/07/2013

Corrections:  The event was scheduled to start at 10AM, I don't know when it started, and HH beyond stating the scheduled start would not elaborate on the start when I called her.  As for night time events, I have no idea of the frequency this year.   Last year I heard about three reports, not all can be directly associated with this facility.

Of the compressor stations I know of:

Lathrop and Williams Central have had major explosions.
Another had a large "bang" (near Hop-Bottom), claimed to not be an explosion.
Initially the were open spaces to (in my opinion) let any leaking gas escape, more recently built compressor stations (last 2 years) have walls, again (in my opinion) to be more photogenic not safer.

Here are the violations I cited, the violations are listed, yet it seems no fine is assigned, I mean, correct me if I am wrong.  In addition, I asked the PR rep of the NE region of the PA DEP, why no DEP representative was present during the stack test listed here, and to date (7/13/13) I have had no response.
http://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eFACTSWeb/searchResults_singleSite.aspx?SiteID=729947

Sometimes you have events like these in the day, my understanding is some nights they "vent" the heavier hydrocarbons butane, pentane, that are not worth hauling for processing.  (Update) Helen Humprys (thank you Hellen)  PR rep for Williams did return my call  after a couple attempts to reach her on my part.   She explained that the event was scheduled with the PA DEP, and that her understanding is that the event was scheduled to start  at 10AM and ended sometime after one. While I don't know when it started, I have a good idea when it ended, and her claim fits my observations.   The function of the event was to add a connection to the pipe, so you have to vent and bring the pressure to atmospheric to make the connection.  That must be one big pipe to take (estimated) 3 hours to drain.  When they vent at night (not that same function as here, and different procedure) , and you get a down wind smell and you call either the DEP or EPA, the stories I have been told is they (gov inspectors)  comes out the next morning and sniff the air and say, "I don't smell anything".  DEP North eastern region (maybe all of PA) has never ran a single test on a "blowdown" or night-time venting, event (last I checked was end of 2012).  These events by no means are daily, they are infrequent, (?monthly?), but frequent enough to upset plenty of residents (at least all I talked to).  

2+ miles away, and it still sounds like a jet fighter tearing though the sky.  I think the real issue is in my opinion, is the more I look the more I am unable to identify any regulatory body with oversight.  DEP says, "we don't regulate noise, the towns do", but does act 13 reasonably prevent that kind of regulation?  

To see testimony of a near by resident, see "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA5cnlJCyBA". 

With the exception of the trailer home, the two closest homes I have never seen occupied.  Like the house (not shown) that is about 600' down hill of the shown Blowdown/Flare.