Item 1. Legal Proceedings
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
See Note 17 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements entitled “Commitments and Contingencies” included in Part I Item 1 above for a summary of our legal proceedings, such information being incorporated herein by reference.
Environmental Proceedings
Our subsidiary, Range Resources – Appalachia, LLC, was notified by the DEP that it intends to assess a civil penalty under the Clean Streams Law and the 2012 Oil and Gas Act in connection with one well in Lycoming County and ordered us to conduct certain remedial work and monitoring to prevent methane and other substances from allegedly escaping the gas well into the surrounding environment including into soil, groundwater, streams and other surrounding water sources. DEP initially issued an order specifying its demands to the subsidiary on May 11, 2015. We appealed the order and the appeal was subsequently settled and discontinued whereupon we agreed to conduct certain, limited remedial work at the one well and continue monitoring water sources in the area and DEP did not assess any fines at that time. Thereafter, on January 13, 2020, DEP issued a new order regarding the same one well in Lycoming County which set forth similar allegations and demands as set forth above. This new order was issued despite considerable data and evidence presented to DEP over the course of the investigation that this one well has not been nor is currently the source of methane in the environment nor any water supplies, but rather the methane existed in the environment before the commencement of our operations. We appealed the January 2020 order and intend to vigorously defend against the allegations asserted by DEP; however, a resolution of this matter may nonetheless result in monetary sanctions of more than $250,000.
From time to time, we receive notices of violation from governmental and regulatory authorities in areas in which we operate relating to alleged violations of environmental statutes or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. While we cannot predict with certainty whether these notices of violation will result in fines and/or penalties, if fines and/or penalties are imposed, they may result in monetary sanctions, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $250,000.
IT EM 1A. RISK FACTORS
We are subject to various risks and uncertainties in the course of our business. In addition to the factors discussed elsewhere in this report, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described under Item 1A. Risk Factors filed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
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