Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - May 6 to 12; Equitrans Gas Storage Area Issued New NOVs

From May 6 to 12, DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 449 inspection entries that resulted in reporting 65 violations of environmental regulations-- 49 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 16 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

So far this year-- as of May 5-- DEP issued 1,944 formal notices of violation to conventional operators and 557 to unconventional shale gas operators based on 5,587 inspections of conventional facilities and 9,109 inspections of unconventional shale gas facilities.

For those keeping score, during the 86 business days between January 1 and May 5, 2023, DEP reported issuing just over 22 notices of violation a day to conventional operators and 6 NOVs a day to unconventional shale gas operators.

Equitrans Identifies New Contamination

On May 10, DEP did a follow up inspection of the Rager Mountain Natural Gas Storage Area in Jackson Township, Cambria County and found new surface and groundwater contamination.

DEP first identified the problems on March 21, 2023 when the company called DEP to report “groundwater impacts have been confirmed” after reviewing sampling results from monitoring wells.

On March 25, 2023, the company notified DEP they observed a “sheen” on a nearby wetland area, but have not yet shared their sampling results with the Department.

An inspection on April 14, 2023 by DEP confirmed areas of surface water contamination at several location, including in a wetland. [DEP 4.14.23 inspection report]

DEP found Equitrans did not take steps to contain the release and prevent their migration from the site and impacts to surface or groundwater.

DEP requested Equitrans to expand its remediation plan for the site to address the "residual fluids" identified by the company, impacted soils, groundwater, surface water, and/or sediments contaminated by the spill or release and their sources within five days of this notice. 

The plan is also required to identify potential down-gradient receptors.

Equitrans is to have a response to DEP in writing by May 17.  [DEP 5.10.23 inspection report]

No Well Integrity/Waste Reports

Inspections this week found two companies or individual well operators failed to file required well integrity reports to DEP-- BCD Prop, Inc.  (8 wells in Erie County) and Margaret E. & Shawn M. Lawry (2 wells in Erie County). 

The annual integrity report is critical because it helps ensure the operator is taking the steps needed to prevent natural gas, oil or contaminated water leaks from oil and gas wells.

In addition, Margaret E. & Shawn M. Lawry did not file annual production and waste generation/disposal reports for their two wells in Erie County

The production and waste report is critical to understanding how much wastewater and other waste those wells generated and where it was disposed of.. 

No New Abandoned Wells

The good news this week is there were no new notices of violation issued for new abandonments of conventional wells, the first time in a long time.

[Note: Click Here for more details on some of the new violations this week.]

Report Violations

To report oil and gas violations or any environmental emergency or complaint, visit DEP’s Environmental Complaint webpage.

Check These Resources

Visit DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database webpage to search their compliance records by date and operator.

Sign up for DEP’s eNOTICE service which sends you information on oil and gas and other permits submitted to DEP for review in your community.

Violation Details

Violations Reported - Conventional

2 -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

2 -- Discharged substance resulting in pollution of Waters of Commonwealth

1 -- Dumped Solid Waste On Ground or Into Waters Of Commonwealth

1-- Operator Vented Natural Gas Into The Atmosphere

2 -- Failure To Report A Release That Caused Or Threatens To Cause Pollution

3 -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

1 -- Failed to design, implement, maintain erosion & sedimentation BMPs to prevent pollution

2 -- Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater

1 -- Failed to Notify DEP And Take Action To Repair, Replace Defective Well Equipment, Casing That Compromise Integrity Of Well

10 -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

2 -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

Company/Location/Violations - Conventional

Cambria County

-- Equitrans LP - Jackson Twp. - Rager Mountain Gas Storage Reservoir

     -- Failure To Report A Release That Caused Or Threatens To Cause Pollution

     -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

     -- Discharged substance resulting in pollution of Waters of Commonwealth

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

Clearfield County

-- Diversified Prod LLC - Bell Twp. - Fee AM 616 Kauffman 295

     -- Failure To Report A Release That Caused Or Threatens To Cause Pollution

     -- Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

Erie County

-- BCD Prop, Inc. - Waterford Twp. - Wilbur & Ila Sanford 1

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

-- BCD Prop, Inc. - Waterford Twp. - Earl Brace A1

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

-- BCD Prop, Inc. - Waterford Twp. - Earl Brace A2

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

-- BCD Prop, Inc. - Waterford Twp. - Earl Brace A3

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

-- BCD Prop, Inc. - Waterford Twp. - Norman Brumagin 1

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

-- BCD Prop, Inc. - Waterford Twp. - James E. Marsh 1

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

-- BCD Prop, Inc. - Waterford Twp. - James E. Marsh 2

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

-- BCD Prop, Inc. - Waterford Twp. - Charles T. & Mary Brace 1

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

-- Margaret E. & Shawn M. Lawry - Venango Twp. - Richard Applebee 3

     -- Failed to Notify DEP And Take Action To Repair, Replace Defective Well Equipment, Casing That Compromise Integrity Of Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

-- Margaret E. & Shawn M. Lawry - Venango Twp. - Richard Applebee 4

     -- Operator Vented Natural Gas Into The Atmosphere

     -- Failed to Notify DEP And Take Action To Repair, Replace Defective Well Equipment, Casing That Compromise Integrity Of Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

-- PP Future Dev Inc. - Harborcreek Twp. - Pastore Inc 1

     -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

     -- Dumped Solid Waste On Ground or Into Waters Of Commonwealth

     -- Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

Jefferson County

-- Diversified Prod LLC - Young Twp. - Fetterman TWP 1  (continuing)

     -- Discharged substance resulting in pollution of Waters of Commonwealth

     -- Failed to design, implement, maintain erosion & sedimentation BMPs to prevent pollution

Violations Reported - Unconventional Shale Gas

1 -- Failed to Notify DEP of Defective Casing, Cementing

1 -- Failed to prevent gas flow in well annulus

3 -- Failed to Prevent Potential Pollution of the Waters of Commonwealth

3 -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

3 -- Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures

1 -- Failed to prevent gas, oil, brine, serving fluids from below seat  from entering fresh groundwater

1 -- Failed to stabilize site to protect against erosion and sedimentation

2 -- Failed To Notify DEP of Defecting Casing, Cementing

Company/Location/Violations - Unconventional Shale Gas

Bradford County

-- Chesapeake Appalachia LLC - Asylum Twp. - Allen Unit 1H

     -- Failed To Notify DEP of Defecting Casing, Cementing

-- Chesapeake Appalachia LLC - Asylum Twp. - Allen Unit 5H

     -- Failed To Notify DEP of Defecting Casing, Cementing

-- Chesapeake Appalachia LLC - Tuscarora Twp.. - Mowry 2 101H

     -- Failed to Prevent Potential Pollution of the Waters of Commonwealth

Clinton County

-- XTO Energy Inc. - Chapman Twp. - PA Tract 8546H

     -- Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures

     -- Failed to Prevent Potential Pollution of the Waters of Commonwealth

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

Susquehanna County

-- SWN Prod Co., LLC - Franklin Twp. - Webster 2H

     -- Failed to prevent gas, oil, brine, serving fluids from below seat from entering fresh groundwater (Original violation Oct. 11, 2012, No new violations)

     -- Failed to Notify DEP of Defective Casing, Cementing

     -- Failed to prevent gas flow in well annulus

     -- Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures

     -- Failed to Prevent Potential Pollution of the Waters of Commonwealth

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

Tioga County

-- Seneca Resources Co. LLC - Delmar Twp. - DCNR 007 229HU 53620

     -- Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures

     -- Failed to Prevent Potential Pollution of the Waters of Commonwealth

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

-- Seneca Resources Co. LLC - Middlebury Twp. - Cruttenden #846

     -- Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

Washington County

-- Range Resources Appalachia LLC - Schultz Bernard 11289 Well Site

     -- Failed to stabilize site to protect against erosion and sedimentation [significant progress made]

[Note: If you believe your company was listed in error, contact DEP’s Oil and Gas Program.]

[Note: These may not be all the NOVs issued to oil and gas companies during this time period.  Additional inspection reports may be added to DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database.]

PA Oil & Gas Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - May 6 to 12; Equitrans Gas Storage Area Issued New NOVs  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Seneca Resources Ignores NOVs On DCNR Shale Gas Well Pad Cleanup For 7 Months & Counting; Citizen Complaint Finds Homeowner Well Venting Gas; Multiple Tanker Truck Spills  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment May 13   [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 61 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In May 13 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Compliance Reports

-- Feature: 60 Years Of Fracking, 20 Years Of Shale Gas: Pennsylvania’s Oil & Gas Industrial Infrastructure Is Hiding In Plain Sight [PaEN]

-- Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners Failed To File Annual Production/Waste Generation Reports For 61,655 Wells; Attorney General Continues Investigation Of Road Dumping Wastewater  [PaEN]

-- DEP Issued 754 Notices Of Violation For Defective Oil & Gas Well Casing, Cementing, The Fundamental Protection Needed To Prevent Gas Migration, Groundwater & Air Contamination, Explosions  [PaEN]

-- DEP Report Finds: Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers Routinely Abandon Wells; Fail To Report How Millions Of Gallons Of Waste Is Disposed; And Non-Compliance Is An ‘Acceptable Norm’  [PaEN]

-- DEP 2021 Oil & Gas Program Annual Report Shows Conventional Oil & Gas Operators Received A Record 610 Notices Of Violation For Abandoning Wells Without Plugging Them  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industry Has Record Year: Cost, Criminal Convictions Up; $3.1 Million In Penalties Collected; Record Number Of Violations Issued; Major Compliance Issues Uncovered; Evidence Of Health Impacts Mounts  [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- Penn State Shale [Gas] Network Workshop Features Acting DEP Secretary Richard Negrin May 18-19 In State College  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Widespread Presence Of PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Fresh Water May Have Led To ‘Inadvertently’ Using Contaminated Water For Fracking Gas Wells In Washington County   [PaEN]

-- PA General Energy Announced It Will Plug Proposed Oil & Gas Waste Injection Well In Grant Twp., Indiana County  [PaEN] 

-- Triumph Township, Warren County Advertising For 100,000 Gallons Of ‘Salt Brine’ To Dump On Township Roads  [PaEN] 

-- Harrisburg University Research Cited By 2 Federal Agencies In New Regulations To Fight Methane Pollution From Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities  [PaEN] 

-- Guest Essay: PA Conventional Oil/Gas Operators Blog: More Carbon Dioxide Is Good, Less Is Bad - By Gregory Wrightstone, CO2 Coalition  [PaEN]

-- Groups File Federal Lawsuit Against Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County For Air Pollution Violations  [PaEN] 

[Posted: May 13, 2023]  PA Environment Digest