Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between November 9 and 15--
Click Here for violations issued between November 16 to 22.
Click Here for inspection entries between November 16 to 22.
Enforcement Actions Taken Last Week
So far this year, DEP took these actions as of November 15--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 26 conventional, 11 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 6,907 conventional and 966 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2024: 457 conventional and 123 unconventional (orders, agreements)
-- Inspections Last Week: 247 conventional and 254 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 15,853 conventional and 21,318 unconventional
DEP Conventional Well Owner Violations Exceed All Of 2023
As of November 15, the Department of Environmental Protection issued owners of conventional oil and gas wells 6,907 violations for violating state laws and regulations, exceeding the 6,860 violations issued in all of 2023. And, there are five+ weeks left in 2024. Read more here.
These included 830 violations for abandoning and not plugging their wells, again exceeding the 512 abandoned well violations issued in all of 2023 to conventional well owners. Read more here.
And these trends are not encouraging.
DEP’s 2022 Oil and Gas Annual Report said 5,416 notices of violation were issued to conventional operators in 2022 and 4,514 violations in 2021 and in 2015, DEP issued just 1,024 violations to conventional operators. Read more here.
The violations so far in 2024 are 153% above the total in 2021-- just three years ago.
Despite the dramatic increase in violations issued, DEP has only seen an increase in noncompliance, confirming yet again its conclusion that the conventional oil and gas industry has a culture where non-compliance is an “acceptable norm.” Read more here
Abandoning wells to avoid the financial responsibility for plugging them and ignoring orders and violations from DEP is rampant in the industry as well. Read more here.
$5.275 Million In Penalties On 2 Shale Gas Well Owners
On November 21, the US Environmental Protection Agency, US Department of Justice and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced two settlements with oil and gas operators in Pennsylvania involving operations in Butler, Lawrence and Mercer Counties. Read more here.
In separate agreements, XTO Energy Inc. (XTO) [ExxonMobil] and Hilcorp Energy Company (Hilcorp), agreed to resolve alleged Clean Air Act and Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act violations involving their oil and gas production operations in Pennsylvania.
Under the settlements, XTO agrees to pay a $4 million civil penalty and Hilcorp agrees to pay a $1.275 million civil penalty.
Each of these amounts will be shared equally by the United States and the Department of Environmental Protection, which is a co-plaintiff in both cases.
In addition to the civil penalties, both companies will undertake compliance measures to achieve major reductions in harmful emissions at their oil and gas production facilities in Butler County, Lawrence County and Mercer County.
XTO will also be required to work with PADEP to identify the heaviest polluting abandoned oil and gas wells in western Pennsylvania and spend at least $1.4 million to plug or remediate them. Read more here.
Abandoned Conventional Wells
John P. Baker - Violations - 3 Abandoned Wells, Failure To Submit Annual Reports
November 13, 2024 routine inspections of John P. Baker 1, 2 & 3 conventional wells in Pine Creek Township, Jefferson County found them to be abandoned and not plugged. Violations were also issued for failure to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports for 20+ years. Response requested by December 10. Baker holds 3 conventional well permits. DEP inspection reports: Well #1, Well #2 and Well #3.
John Z & Mildred Drakulic - 1 Abandoned Well, Violations May Be Issued
November 19, 2024 inspection of the Drakulic 3 conventional well in Penn Township, Westmoreland County found it abandoned and is being evaluated for plugging. Violations may be issued after due diligence. The well owner holds 1 conventional well permit. DEP inspection report.
WA Oil Company - 4 Abandoned Wells, Violations May Be Issued
November 21, 2024 inspections of the H. Breeze 1, 7 & 8 conventional wells in Buffalo Township, Washington County and the Vera Knox Stine conventional well in Donegal Township, Washington County found them abandoned and are being evaluated for plugging. Violations may be issued after due diligence. WA Oil holds 222 conventional oil and gas well permits-- 53 are abandoned and remainder are inaction [on the way to being abandoned]. DEP inspection reports: Well #1, Well #7 and Well #8.
Abandoned Shale Gas Wells
Hilcorp Energy Co. - Violations - Abandoned Plugged Well Leaking Gas
November 14, 2024 inspection of the 3H shale gas well at the Pulaski Kinkea well pad in Pulaski Township, Lawrence County concerning a failed plugging that is resulting in leaking gas. Violations were continued. Response requested by November 12 [obviously a date error]. DEP inspection report.
On November 12 & 13, 2024, DEP inspected three other shale gas wells-- 1H, 2H and 4H at the same well pad in response to a notice of intent to replug those wells because the plugs had failed. Read more here.
Roulette Oil & Gas LLC - Violations - Abandoned Well
November 21, 2024 inspection related to an application for Inactive Well Status Extension to address an abandoned well violation issued on January 2, 2024 at the Guardian Bad B 6H shale gas well in Hebron Township, Potter County. The well was drilled but never fracked. Violations continued. DEP inspection report.
Abandoned Well Evaluations
DEP inspected at least 22 abandoned conventional oil and gas well to evaluate them for plugging--
-- Armstrong County, Redbank Twp.: Charles Pope 1 & 8;
-- Fayette County, Luzerne Twp.: JW Krepps 167 [Greensboro Gas Col]; I. Riffle;
-- Venango County, Clinton Twp.: Harris K01;
-- Venango County, Emlenton Boro: Hill Street 1
-- Venango County, Richland Twp.: Fisher & Young 12; Hepler E 01;
-- Venango County, Scrubgrass Twp.: Kasmoch 1, 2 & 5; Gibson 1; Honeysuckle AWI 1;
-- Washington County, Chartiers Twp.: R&M Arnold;
-- Washington County, North Strabane Twp.: D&J Frlconi;
-- Washington County, West Finley Twp.: Gail Clutter 289 [Enlow Fork Mining Co.]; Murray Loar G-555; Timothy Collins 1; D.O. Hancher; George Sprowls;
-- Westmoreland County, Allegheny Twp.: Stewart 2 [PPG Ind Inc.]
-- Westmoreland County, Penn Twp.: Elizabeth Campbell
About a dozen other conventional well sites were inspected, but they were not located by DEP.
833 Abandoned Conventional Well, 28 Abandoned Shale Gas Well Violations 2024
So far in 2024, DEP issued 833 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells, more than in all of 2023.
So far in 2024, 30 violations were issued or continued to 12 shale gas well owners [Roulette Oil & Gas LLC; Hilcorp Energy Co; Hilcorp Energy Co (3); T & F Exploration LP; EQT Production Co. follow-up; Diversified Prod LLC; Big Dog Energy LLC follow-up; Big Dog Energy LLC; EQT Production Co.; Diversified Prod LLC; Chesapeake Appalachia LLC, Atlas Resources, LLC; Atlas Resources, LLC (follow-up inspection)’ Repsol Oil & Gas, EQT Chap LLC; M4 Energy; M4 Energy (follow-up inspection); EQT (Rice Drilling B LLC); and Roulette Oil & Gas LLC; Roulette Oil & Gas LLC (follow-up inspection)] for abandoning wells and not plugging wells.
Injection Well Shale Gas Wastewater Pipeline Leak Discovered
A wastewater release discovered by DEP during a routine inspection on October 25 at the Bear Lake Properties LLC Bittinger #4 shale gas wastewater injection well site in Columbus Township, Warren County went unreported to DEP for at least 109 days, according to a response to DEP's violations sent by the company on November 11.
During a follow-up inspection by DEP on November 8, DEP discovered another area of contamination 600 feet east of the Bittinger 4 injection well facility along the path of a shale gas wastewater pipeline bringing wastewater to the injection well for disposal from processing facilities in the area. Read more here.
Conventional Wastewater Spills
Frank L. Washabaugh Oil Producers - Violations - Wastewater Spills
November 13, 2024 inspection [Part I] of the William M. Johnson 1 conventional oil well in Cross Creek Township, Washington County found oil staining and evidence of at least two wastewater leaks from a production tank farm at the site. One ran downslope into an erosion channel and a forested area with evidence of dead vegetation. A second spill traveled downslope in a different direction also with evidence of dead vegetation. Violations were issued. Request for a response by November 27. DEP inspection report.
Part 2 of DEP’s inspection reports found fluid in the bottom of a cracked wastewater storage tank and production equipment on the site that had not been removed. Violations were issued. Request for a response by November 27. DEP inspection report.
Frank L. Washabaugh holds 5 conventional well permits.
This well owner should not be confused with Frank D. Washabaugh who was given violations for abandoning 11 conventional wells in June. Read more here.
2024 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups
So far in 2024, DEP received or acted on 254 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.
Shale Gas Well Owner Fails To Notify DEP Of Water Complaint
Clean Energy Exploration & Production LLC - Violation - Failure To Notify DEP Of Drinking Water Complaint
November 13, 2024 routine inspection of the Whispering Pines shale gas well pad in Delmar Township, Tioga County continued an August 23, 2024 violation for failing to notify DEP of a drinking water complaint for 46 days. A water supply owner notified the well owner on May 28, 2024 of a drinking water contamination complaint and the company did not notify DEP until July 13. This pad is the site of multiple spills and releases dating back to December 27, 2023. [Read more here] No request for well owner to do anything. DEP inspection report.
Failure To Submit Monthly Shale Gas Production, Waste Reports
AMS Energy, LLC - Violation - Failure To Submit Sept. Production, Waste Report
November 13, 2024 DEP issued a notice of violation to this shale gas well owner for failure to submit monthly gas production and waste generation and disposal reports for one or more of its wells for September. DEP gave the owner 10 days to respond. AMS Energy holds 46 shale gas well permits.
John E. McCool - Violation - Failure To Submit Sept. Production, Waste Report
November 13, 2024 DEP issued a notice of violation to this shale gas well owner for failure to submit monthly gas production and waste generation and disposal reports for one or more of its wells for September. DEP gave the owner 10 days to respond. McCool holds 461 conventional and shale gas well permits.
Monona LLC - Violation - Failure to Submit Sept. Production, Waste Report
November 13, 2024 DEP issued a notice of violation to this shale gas well owner for failure to submit monthly gas production and waste generation and disposal reports for one or more of its wells for September. DEP gave the owner 10 days to respond. Monona holds 3 shale gas well permits.
Gas Leaking From Wells
Apollo Resources LLC - Violations - Failed To Fix Leaking Gas Well For 3 Months
November 8, 2024 followup inspection of State Game Lands 51B1 conventional gas well in Dunbar Borough, Fayette County found the well owner had failed to fix multiple gas well leaks at the well since original violations were issued on August 29. Violations continued. Response requested by November 29. DEP inspection report.
Elk County, Benezette Twp. Stray Gas Investigation Continues
Unknown Well Owner - Stray Gas Investigation
November 19, 2024 inspection of the Medix Run 1 conventional was made as part of a continuing investigation of stray gas contaminating a private water supply in Benezette Township, Elk County. Evaluation of the well was blocked because the well was filled with gravel and sediment. DEP inspection report.
Use DEP’s Oil and Gas Mapping Tool to find if there are oil and gas wells near or on your property and to find wells using latitude and longitude on well inspection reports.
Erosion & Sedimentation Violations
Apollo Resources LLC - Violations - Failure To Maintain Conventional Well Site Stability
November 22, 2024 routine inspection of the Hillview Cemetery 2 conventional well in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County found severe rutting on the access road and erosion and sedimentation issues from the well site and failure to tag the site with well owner contact information. Response requested by December 9. DEP inspection report.
Bialy Gas Production LLC - Violations - Failure To Comply With DEP Order
November 18, 2024 a follow-up inspection of the Ambridge Sportsmen Association 1 & 2 conventional wells in Economy Borough, Beaver County found the well owner failed to comply with an order to restore the well sites after plugging the wells. Original violations issued April 30. No requests made of the well owner. DEP inspection reports: Well #1, Well #2.
ETC Northeast Pipeline LLC - Violations - Denied Request To Terminate E&S Permit
November 7, 2024 inspection of the McMichael Compressor Station to the Revolution Natural Gas Pipeline in Independence Township, Beaver County found the site failed to comply with site restoration regulations and a request to terminate the erosion and sedimentation permit was denied. Violations were issued. Response requested by November 25. DEP inspection report.
Range Resources Appalachia LLC - Violations - Failure To Restore Well Site
November 5, 2024 inspection of the Wylie Dennis 17563 shale gas well pad in Buffalo Township, Washington County found the site failed to comply with site restoration requisitions and the inspector recommended the request to terminate the erosion and sedimentation permit be denied. Violations were issued. Response requested by November 21. DEP inspection report.
Other Violations
Ronald L. Simons - Violations - Failure To Submit Annual Reports
November 20, 2024 inspection as a result of a complaint at the R & D Simons 7 conventional gas well in Conneaut Township, Erie County found no leaking gas, but the well owner did not submit annual production, waste generation and mechanical integrity reports. The well was being used for house gas. DEP found out the well owner and his wife had passed away in 2023 and 2024 and an executor for the estate said there is a prospective buyer for the well. Response requested from the executor by December 6. DEP inspection report.
Report Violations
To report oil and gas violations or any environmental emergency or complaint, visit DEP’s Environmental Complaint webpage.
Text photos and the location of abandoned wells to 717-788-8990.
Check These Resources
Visit DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database and Inspection Reports Viewer webpages to search their compliance records by date and owner.
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.
Use DEP’s Oil and Gas Mapping Tool to find if there are oil and gas wells near or on your property and to find wells using latitude and longitude on well inspection reports.
(Photos: Row 1- Apollo Resources LLC severe access road rutting, erosion at conventional well site; Bialy Gas Production LLC failed to comply with DEP order to restore conventional well site: Conventional gas well left in limbo when Ronald L. Simons and his wife passed away; One of 3 abandoned conventional wells owned by John P. Baker, failed to submit annual reports for 20+ years; Row- 2 Leaking wastewater tanks from Frank L. Washabaugh Oil Producers conventional well; Failed plugging of Hilcorp Energy Co. shale gas well leaking gas; Apollo Resources LLC conventional well leaking gas on State Game Lands; ETC Northeast Pipeline LLC was denied termination of erosion and sedimentation permit for failing to comply at the McMichael Compressor Station to the Revolution Natural Gas Pipeline.)
[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 Industry Public Notice Dashboards:
-- DEP So Far In 2024: 6,907 Violations Issued To Owners Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wells - 153% More Than In 2021; 833 Violations For Abandoning Their Wells -- Exceeding All Of 2023 [PaEN]
-- Oil & Gas Wastewater Release At Bear Lake Properties Injection Well In Warren County Went Unreported For 109 Days; More Contamination Discovered Along Related Wastewater Pipeline Route [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 23 [PaEN]
-- DEP Prints Corrected Notice Inviting Comments On New Air Pollution Permit For Revolution Natural Gas Cryogenic Processing Plant In Washington County; Plant Suffered Major Explosion, Fire In 2022 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 60 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 23 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Pine Creek Headwaters Protection Group Update: Industrial Shale Gas Development In Tioga State Forest Prioritizes Industry Profit Over Constitutional Mandate To Preserve, Protect State Forest Lands [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Meets Dec. 12 On New Fee Schedule; Water Withdrawals, Including 4 Shale Gas; New General Permit For Into-Basin Diversions [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 42 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In October; 274 General Permits So Far In 2024 [PaEN]
-- DEP Reduces Permit Backlog By 75%, Completely Eliminates Backlog For Oil & Gas Permits; You Can’t Blame DEP Anymore For Project Delays [PaEN]
-- Guest Essay: Protecting Public Health Means Enforcing Environmental Regulations While Helping Businesses Thrive - By Jessica Shirley, Acting DEP Secretary [PaEN]
-- Gov. Shapiro Signs Executive Order Creating PA Permit Fast Track Program; Can't Blame DEP Anymore For Delaying Projects [PaEN]
-- DCNR Speeds Up Endangered, Threatened Species Environmental Permit Review Times, ATV Permitting, Ginseng Certification [PaEN]
-- DEP Publishes Updated Non-Regulatory Agenda Showing Technical Guidance Documents In Development [PaEN]
-- PUC To Host Nov. 25 Technical Conference On Adequacy Of Electricity Supplies In Pennsylvania [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- National Review: Northeast Pennsylvania Needs Natural Gas - New Congress, New Federal Administration Should Overturn Delaware River Basin Commission Moratorium On Shale Gas Fracking - By Jason Adams [PDF of Article]
-- Marcellus Drilling News: Bear Lake Shale Gas Wastewater Injection Well Leak Went Undiscovered For 109 Days [PDF of article]
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Exxon And Hilcorp Shale Gas Drillers Settle Environmental Violations With Millions In Fines And Promised Air Quality Benefits
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: PA Environmental Groups Urge Biden To Keep Block On LNG Gas Export Projects [PDF of Article]
-- Environmental Health Project Releases 2024 Year In Review [Shale Gas Drilling Health Impacts]
-- Erie Times Letter: A Boon? Consider The Price Pennsylvania Pays For Fracking - By Katie Jones, FracTracker Alliance, Johnstown
-- Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition: David Callahan To Retire At End Of Year; Jim Welty To Take Over As President
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Current, Future Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition Leaders Talk Industry [Patrick Henderson Promoted To VP] [PDF of Article]
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition Announces New Leadership In New Year
-- PA Independent Oil & Gas Assn.: Shapiro Signs Executive Order Aimed At Streamlining Permit Process For Infrastructure Projects
-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: Climate Activists Criticize Exclusion From Philadelphia Gas Works Budget Process, Propose New Rules
-- Lancaster Farming: Game Commission’s New Plan To Spend Shale Gas Drilling Lease Royalties Applauded By Sen. Martin
-- The Allegheny Front: Fairmont, WV Residents Press Agencies On Explosion, Fire At Oil & Gas Waste Process Site Last Year Owned By PA Company
-- Utility Dive: State Ratepayer Advocates Press FERC For PJM Capacity Market Changes, Citing ‘Crushing’ Prices [Not PA’s Consumer Advocate]
-- Reuters: Gauging The Likely Republican Effect On US Energy, Power Sectors [PDF of Article]
-- WSJ: Republican Oil & Gas Donors Don’t Really Want To ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ [PDF of Article]
-- The Economist: New Republican Administration’s Natural Gas War Is About To Begin [PDF of Article]
-- Institute For Energy Economics & Financial Analysis: New Fortress Energy, Leader Of LNG Gas Export Growth Bubble, Facing Bankruptcy [Proposed Building Facilities In PA]
-- Bloomberg: Asian LNG Gas Prices Jump To Highest This Year Following Europe’s Rise
-- Reuters: US LNG Gas Exports Primed To Jump As Price In Europe Hits One-Year High
-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Drillers To Lift 2025 Output, Reversing Year Of Cuts- US EIA
-- Bloomberg: China’s Surging LNG Gas Imports From US Threatened By Next Trade War
-- Reuters: LNG Gas Tankers Divert To Europe From Asia After Russia Halts Supplies To Austria [11.18.24]
-- Bloomberg: LNG Gas Traders Choose To Pay Penalties For Not Shipping Gas To Germany To Chase Higher Profits In Asia [10.1.24]
[Posted: November 23, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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