PA-based company cited for spill into WV creek

(Moundsville, WV) -- West Virginia regulators have ordered Pennsylvania-based Noble Energy to regain control of an impoundment that overflowed into a tributary of Wheeling Creek last month.

Photo by water.weather.gov

The spill near Dallas, WV involved more than 2,200 barrels of brine wastewater.

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection said Friday it issued seven violations. They include failure to follow monitoring and emergency action plans and failure to maintain the pit to minimize environmental harm.

Noble, based in Canonsburg, Washington County, must propose plans for sampling and removing contaminated soil and surface waters.

It also must identify wells within 2,000 feet and submit a testing plan, as well as submit a report on the pit's structural integrity.

Noble says it continues to cooperate and will take measures to ensure this kind of incident doesn't happen again.

It says the only onsite activity is remediation work.