The Pennsylvania State Police placed 208 trucks out of service during a three-day enforcement effort that focused on commercial vehicles hauling waste water from Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling operations in the state.


"Pennsylvania is experiencing heavy truck traffic in areas where Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling operations are taking place, particularly in Bradford, Clearfield, Susquehanna, Tioga and Washington counties," explained Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski. "The process of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, requires significant amounts of water to be delivered to the sites and later trucked away."

Pawlowski said 140 of the vehicles placed out of service were trucks hauling waste water from the drilling operations. The others were trucks being used in support of drilling operations, or trucks not involved in drilling operations that were traveling roads where the inspections took place.

In total, 1,135 trucks were inspected during "Operation FracNET," which was conducted Sept. 27-29. In addition to placing vehicles out of service, state police also issued 959 citations and placed 64 drivers out of service. The most common problems involved faulty brakes, exterior lighting issues and hauling permit violations.

During an "Operation FracNET" held June 14-16, troopers placed 250 trucks and 45 drivers out of service and issued 669 citations.