PennEnergy Resources has withdrawn its permits to draw water from Big Sewickley Creek in western Pennsylvania, a decision welcomed by environmentalists who say the move reflects growing concerns over climate variability and surface water demand from the fracking industry.
A natural gas company has surrendered its permits to pump water from a western Pennsylvania creek in a move welcomed by environmentalists fearful of rising industrial demand for surface water and the growing threat of climate change.
PennEnergy Resources asked the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in April to rescind its permits to withdraw 1.5 million gallons per day from Big Sewickley Creek in Beaver County, near Pittsburgh. The company said the creek would likely not provide enough water for eight nearby horizontal wells.
Years earlier, PennEnergy had requested to withdraw 3 million gallons per day from the main stem of the creek and another million from its north fork. DEP denied the initial application due to risks posed to the southern redbelly dace, a fish species listed as threatened in Pennsylvania. The company later revised its request, and in January 2024, the agency approved the smaller 1.5 million gallon-per-day withdrawal.
However, PennEnergy later determined that streambed changes would make it difficult to meet permit conditions for minimum bypass flow. “We noted naturally occurring alterations of the stream-bed conditions making it unlikely that our approved withdrawal location would be viable,” said PennEnergy spokesperson Amanda Peterson.
Peterson declined to say if the company had secured an alternative water source but stated that each well requires between 9 and 18 million gallons of water for hydraulic fracturing, about two-thirds of which is recycled. She emphasized that the permit surrender was voluntary and not the result of public pressure or regulatory mandates.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, typically uses around 4 million gallons of water per well—equivalent to New York City’s water use every six minutes, according to the American Petroleum Institute. Critics argue that using surface water from creeks for industrial purposes jeopardizes public resources.
Environmental advocates had urged PennEnergy to source water from larger rivers like the Ohio instead of the smaller Big Sewickley Creek. The company initially dismissed that option, citing a preference to minimize truck traffic by withdrawing water close to its well pad.
Katie Stanley, president of the Big Sewickley Creek Watershed Association, called the company’s reversal a win for the local environment. “Big Sewickley Creek does not have sufficient flow, and other water sources should have been more thoroughly considered,” she said.
Rose Reilly, the association’s treasurer, noted there was no official evidence that public opposition drove the permit surrender, but volunteers had planned to monitor compliance. Reilly also pointed out that a significant portion of the creek’s flow bypasses the proposed withdrawal site—up to 70% after heavy rains earlier this year.
Had the withdrawal moved forward, it would have harmed the creek’s water quality and water table, threatening wildlife, including the southern redbelly dace, Reilly said.
DEP spokesperson Brandon Glass confirmed that the permit rescission was voluntary and noted that such actions are not uncommon among oil and gas operators.
Emma Bast, a staff attorney at PennFuture, said PennEnergy’s conclusion could serve as a precedent for other companies as climate change alters rainfall patterns. Following the 2024 drought and unpredictable rain in 2025, reliance on surface water may seem increasingly risky for industrial users, including fracking operations and data centers.
Heather Hulton VanTassel, executive director of Three Rivers Waterkeeper, said the volume of water PennEnergy sought from Big Sewickley Creek was unusually large. She warned that fracking will increasingly strain water systems in southwestern Pennsylvania. “It’s a matter of time,” she said.
China on Friday defended its recent export control measures on rare earth elements, insisting the restrictions are in line with international norms and not directed at any specific country.
Federal authorities have arrested 14 suspects in Los Angeles linked to an Armenian organized crime ring accused of stealing $30 million in COVID relief and Small Business loans intended to support American taxpayers.
Banksy has returned with a mysterious new artwork—this time, possibly in France—and fans are buzzing with theories.
Paul Doyle, a 53-year-old man from West Derby, Liverpool, has appeared in court after a car was driven into a crowd during Liverpool FC’s trophy parade earlier this week. The incident took place on Water Street, where thousands of fans had gathered to celebrate the team’s Premier League title win.
Model Hailey Bieber is selling her skincare brand Rhode to e.l.f. Beauty in a deal worth up to $1 billion (£790 million), with plans for international expansion and continued viral success.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated Pakistan’s enduring support for United Nations peacekeeping operations, highlighting the country’s historic contributions and calling for renewed international resolve to strengthen peacekeeping efforts in a rapidly evolving global security landscape.
China on Friday defended its recent export control measures on rare earth elements, insisting the restrictions are in line with international norms and not directed at any specific country.
The Green Climate Fund (GCF)-backed project, “Strengthening Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agricultural Livelihoods in Southern Iraq” (SRVALI), was officially launched on the sidelines of the 5th Baghdad International Water Conference.
Federal authorities have arrested 14 suspects in Los Angeles linked to an Armenian organized crime ring accused of stealing $30 million in COVID relief and Small Business loans intended to support American taxpayers.
Banksy has returned with a mysterious new artwork—this time, possibly in France—and fans are buzzing with theories.
AnewZ takes to the streets of Yerevan and Baku to ask a simple yet deeply complex question: How do you see peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan? In the first part of our special report, we hear the hopes, doubts, and scars still shaping people’s perspectives on both sides.
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
A car drove into crowds of Liverpool fans celebrating the club’s Premier League title in the city centre on Monday evening, injuring dozens including 4 children. A 53-year-old man believed to be the driver was arrested at the scene.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Kyiv faced a large-scale Russian drone and missile assault overnight, with explosions and gunfire echoing throughout the city, forcing residents to shelter in subway stations.
The Green Climate Fund (GCF)-backed project, “Strengthening Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agricultural Livelihoods in Southern Iraq” (SRVALI), was officially launched on the sidelines of the 5th Baghdad International Water Conference.
A staggering 4 billion people—half of the world’s population—experienced at least 30 additional days of extreme heat over the past year due to human-induced climate change, a new international study revealed Friday.
The next five years are likely to be the warmest in recorded history, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), as rising global temperatures push the planet closer to surpassing key climate thresholds with wide-ranging consequences.
A seabird chick found with 778 plastic pieces inside its body on a remote island between Australia and New Zealand has become a powerful symbol of the global plastic pollution crisis. Scientists say the plastic has caused chronic illness and cognitive decline in the bird, raising urgent concerns abo
Tajikistan is hosting the International Conference on Glacier Preservation from May 29 to June 1, 2025, in Dushanbe, aiming to highlight the urgent need to halt glacial retreat and elevate the issue on the global climate agenda.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated Pakistan’s enduring support for United Nations peacekeeping operations, highlighting the country’s historic contributions and calling for renewed international resolve to strengthen peacekeeping efforts in a rapidly evolving global security landscape.
China on Friday defended its recent export control measures on rare earth elements, insisting the restrictions are in line with international norms and not directed at any specific country.
The Green Climate Fund (GCF)-backed project, “Strengthening Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agricultural Livelihoods in Southern Iraq” (SRVALI), was officially launched on the sidelines of the 5th Baghdad International Water Conference.
Federal authorities have arrested 14 suspects in Los Angeles linked to an Armenian organized crime ring accused of stealing $30 million in COVID relief and Small Business loans intended to support American taxpayers.
Banksy has returned with a mysterious new artwork—this time, possibly in France—and fans are buzzing with theories.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment