Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between September 13 to 19--
Click Here for violations issued. Click Here for inspection entries.
Enforcement Actions Taken Last Week
So far this year, DEP took these actions as of September 12--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 60 conventional, 2 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 4,316 conventional and 932 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2025: 325 conventional and 109 unconventional (orders, agreements)
-- Inspections Last Week: 303 conventional and 386 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 13,731 conventional and 18,275 unconventional
Pipeline Rupture At Natural Gas Storage Area In Fayette County
On September 12, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection was notified of a pipeline rupture near an Eastern Gas Transmission & Storage, Inc. natural gas storage area injection well in Wharton Township, Fayette County causing a release of gas and wastewater.
The rupture occurred sometime before 7:39 p.m. on the 12th at the underground North Summit Gas Storage area near the R.E. Eberly UW-204 gas injection well serving the storage area. The storage area is located within DCNR’s Forbes State Forest. Read more here.
Independent Study Finds Link Between Shale Gas Drilling, Water Well Contamination In Greene County
An independent, peer-reviewed research study published by authors from University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University in the journal Scientific Reports found links between a June 2022 shale gas drilling incident and private water well contamination in Freeport and Springhill Townships, Greene County.
In addition, the study found the extent of water contamination was wider than initially reported.
These same two townships recently declared disaster emergencies due to water well contamination from gas related drilling after three years of having residents without a permanent source of clean water. Read more here.
Federal Court Denies Injunction In Lawsuit By Greene County Residents Related To Water Well Contamination
The Federal Western District Court has denied a request for a preliminary injunction made by New Freeport residents in a lawsuit against EQT shale gas drilling company for damages related to contaminated water supplies in Greene County, according to the Center for Coalfield Justice.
The lawsuit, filed June 20, 2024, alleges the company’s natural gas drilling operations in New Freeport contaminated the community’s groundwater aquifers in June 2022. Read more here.
The preliminary injunction was intended to ensure EQT would provide water buffalos to more than just the initial group of impacted residents and ensure that deliveries would continue to be paid for by the company. Read more here.
CNX Resources Drakulic Shale Gas Wells Expire Potentially Ending Appeals; CNX Can Apply Again
On September 15, the citizen group Protect PT issued a statement saying permits for two controversial WCAA Upstream, LLC shale gas wells on the Drakulic pad expired on August 17, 2025 in Penn Township, Westmoreland County.
WCAA (owned by CNX Resources) had until the well permits expired to start drilling, but they did not. The Environmental Hearing Board upheld DEP’s issuance of the permits in a June 3, 2025 decision. Read more here.
However, both Protect PT and WCAA Upstream, LLC appealed the decision to Commonwealth Court for different reasons and now those appeals may not be heard. Read more here.
5 Abandoned Conventional Wells
Marco Drilling Inc.
September 11, 2025 inspection of the Josephine Tuche ET Vir 4 conventional well in Indiana Township, Allegheny County found the well abandoned and not plugged. Violation issued. Response requested by September 29. DEP inspection report. Quest holds 35 permits.
Raymond D. Langer
September 11, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Lorish 1, Choeller 1 and J. Riddle 2 conventional wells in Robinson Township, Allegheny County found the wells abandoned and not plugged. The owner failed to comply with an Order to plug the well and other actions for which a violation was issued on June 12, 2025. No specific requests was made of owner. DEP inspection report. Langer holds 22 permits.
Nucomer Energy LLC [16 Months]
September 2, 2025 administrative review of the Anthony Masi 1 conventional well in Millcreek Township, Erie County and found the well abandoned and not plugged, although some unused equipment had been removed from the site. Original violation issued on May 14, 2024. The well owner said this well is one of a group of wells “needing plugged” the owner would like to talk to DEP about. Violations continued. No requests of well owner. DEP inspection report. Nucomer holds 40 permits, including one other abandoned well.
Failed To Restore Plugged Conventional Well Site
Iron Pennsylvania Land LLC
September 15, 2025 administrative review of the WM Gilbert 3581 conventional well in Jackson Township, Greene County found the owner did not comply with an Order to restore the site 9 months after the well was plugged on November 8, 2024. Violation issued. Response requested by September 30. DEP inspection report. Iron Pennsylvania holds 85 permits.
469 Abandoned Conventional Well Violations In 2025
So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 469 violations to 105 conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.
In 2024, DEP issued 860 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.
The violations were issued to these conventional owners in 2025: 3D Resources LLC ; All American Energy Inc.; Amer Natural Resources LLC; WB Anderson; Apex Energy (PA), LLC; Apollo Resources LLC; ARG Resources Inc.; Baird Oil Co.; Carol A. Morrison Baker; Baron Crest Energy Co.; Bialy Gas Production LLC; Blackrock Enterprises LLC; Darrel B. Blauser; JJ Bucher Producing Corp; Chris E. Burke; Consolidated Coal Co.; Dorothy Craft; Edward E. & Frederick J. Craig; Edward E. Craig; Crude A Co - Randy L. Larkin; Dannic Energy Corp.; Harold H. Davis; Lewis E. Davis; Paul H. Deeter; Delong Oil Inc.; Developed Resources, Inc.; Randy A. Dietterich; Diversified Production LLC; East Resources Inc.; Eastern Gas Trans & Storage Inc.; Eastern Natural Resources LLC; Elder Oil & Gas Co; Equitrans LP; EQT Production Co.; Exotic Oil & Gas LLC; Ex-Treme Oil And Gas LLC; Greenway Energy LLC; Michael Harju; Donald S. Kelly; Harry L. King; Howard Drilling Inc.; Robert L. Hunter; Iron Pennsylvania Land LLC; Donald Jeannerett; JPS Lawncare & Landscaping; Keystone Crude LLC; Raymond J. Kaufman; Kiski Valley Gas Co.; Raymond D. Langer; Leechburg Gas Co.; Manufacturers Light & Heat Co; Marco Drilling Inc.; David H. Melat Co; Mid East Oil Co.; MTN Energy; MTN V Oil & Gas Inc.; Charles E. Myers; Myers Gas; James J. & Wendelin H. Neff; Charles F. & Rita M. Niederriter; Niche Energy LLC; Nucomer Energy LLC; Ohio Kentucky Oil Corp. ; Oil & Gas MGMT Co. LLC; Old MTN Gas Co. Inc.; OneXXX Prod & Exploration Corp.; Ows Acquisition Co. LLC; PA Mineral SVCS LLC; Robert Lee Pennington; PBS Coals Inc; Raymond J. Patten; Pecora Enterprises; Pencan Explorations Inc.; Penta Oil Corp.; Robert F. Phipps; Pillar Energy PA, LLC; Pin Oak Energy Partners, LLC; The Production Co. LLC; Prosperity Oil Co. Inc.; Red Lion Gas Coop Assn; Reel Resources, Inc; Riyan Farm & Gas LLC; Raymond Sawyer; Rocksauce OPR LLC; Fred C. Scheel; SK Opr Inc.; Larry A. Shaffer Jr.; FM Sloan Inc.; Lyle D. Smith; Andrew F. Suchko; S R Star O&G LLC ; Steele Molar Holdings LLC; Stockman LLC; Stonehaven Energy MGT Co. LLC; Andrew F. Suchko; Griffin Summit Oil Company; Thomas Thurma Jean; TI Brook Inc.; Timberline Energy, Inc.; Mervin Troyer; Valley Green Golf & Country Club, Inc.; Vessels Coal Gas Inc.; Walker Oil Prod Inc.; Washington Energy Co LLC; Ronald Wise; Mary A. Woodring; Woodward Inc.
Confused Status - Conventional Well
Questa Petro Co
August 27, 2025 inspection of the Markle Howard 1 conventional well in South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County found the owner failed to submit production, waste generation and well integrity reports consistently. Over the years, the owner said the well was reported not drilled, abandoned, plugged, and not owned by Questa. At the time of the inspection the well appeared to be producing house gas. Multiple violations issued. Response requested by September 15. DEP inspection report. Questa holds 223 permits, including three other abandoned wells.
Spills/Releases/Venting Gas - Conventional
DEP Well Plugging Site/NextLVL Contractor
September 15, 2025 inspection of the Kinzua Bridge State Park KB5 conventional well plugging site in Hamlin Township, McKean County found a release of “mostly” crude oil at the site. Staining on the well plugging rig showed fluid shot out of the well “achieving a vertical height of at least 12 feet.” NextLVL was notified and employees arrived from another job site to conduct a “visual cleanup” with absorbent pads. DCNR was notified of the release. Violations were issued to NextLVL. Response requested by September 24. DEP inspection report.
Deitz Gas & Oil Inc. [17 Months]
September 16, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Redclyffe 82 conventional well in Barnett Township, Forest County found the owner had done nothing to fix the access road leading to the well, cleaned up a spill, fixed a gas leak or dealt with corrosion problems. Violations originally issued April 8, 2024. Violations continued. DEP said the “well will be considered abandoned” if an inspection in 2026 shows it in the same condition. No requests made of well owner. DEP inspection report. Deitz Gas holds 326 permits, including three abandoned wells.
Apollo Resources LLC [11 Months]
September 17, 2025 administrative review of the Whyel 1 conventional well in Nicholson Township, Fayette County found the owner still has not fully responded to violations involving a wastewater release at the site first discovered by DEP on October 18, 2024. Original violations issued November 26, 2024, violations continued on April 8, 2025, fresh violations issued on May 21, 2025 and continued on August 13, 2025. Violations continued on September 17, 2025 inspection report. No requests made of well owner. Apollo Resources holds 1,896 permits, including 2 abandoned wells.
First Amer Energy Inc. [11 Months]
September 11, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Warrant 4917 156 conventional well in Foster Township, McKean County to monitor the progress of cleanup under an October 28, 2024 Consent Order and Agreement with the owner. Excavating equipment was staged and the site and there was evidence of soil removal. Storage tanks had been removed and staged at a nearby conventional well site. Test holes had been dug outside of containment and a stockpile of contaminated soil was located inside containment. At the time of the inspection sampling results had not been received to demonstrate attainment of remediation standards. Violations related to failing to comply with the Consent Order were continued. No specific requests made of well owner. DEP inspection report. First Amer Energy holds 596 permits, including 20 abandoned wells.
John P & Pearl E. Nickolich [10 Months]
September 12, 2025 inspection of the T. Bickerton 130 conventional gas well in Jefferson Hills Borough, Allegheny County found the well still leaking gas. Also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Original violations issued November 22, 2024. Nothing changed since last inspection on August 22, 2025. The owner contacted DEP to discuss existing violations. Violations continued. No requests made of owner. DEP inspection report. Nickolich holds 1 permit.
PA Mineral SVCS LLC
September 15, 2025 inspection of the E. Shuster 2 conventional well in Unity Township, Westmoreland County found evidence of a leaking wastewater tank or other waste at the site. Absorbent mats were on the ground. The owner said he had replaced a faulty dump valve the week before. Violations issued, including for failing to notify DEP of the spill. Response requested by September 30. DEP inspection report. PA Mineral holds 761 permits, including 12 abandoned wells.
Spills/Releases - Shale Gas Wells
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC
September 18, 2025 inspection of the Black Creek shale gas well pad in Forks Township, Sullivan County in response to a notification by the pad owner found a visibly impacted area of “high conductivity fluid” next to a storage tank. A written violation was issued. Response requested by October 10. DEP inspection report.
Range Resources Appalachia LLC
September 16, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Laurel Hill shale gas well pad in Jackson Township, Lycoming County found the owner still had not completed the cleanup of multiple spill areas on the pad. The latest violations for releases on this well pad were issued on September 11, 2025. Spills also occurred in 2023 and 2024. Read more here. Request for owner to respond by October 1 continued from September 11 inspection. DEP inspection report.
Casing/Cement Failure - Shale Gas
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC
September 5, 2025 inspection of the Kupscznk 1H, 2H, 3H shale gas wells in Springville Township, Susquehanna County as part of ongoing monitoring of wells with casing/cement failures since July 13, 2016 and September 4, 2024. Wells drilled in 2014. Monitoring to continue. No new violations. DEP inspection report.
Failure To Have Emergency Response, Pollution Prevention Contingency Plans
EQT Production Co.
September 15, 2025 inspection of the Porter shale gas pad in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County found the site did not have the required Emergency Response and Pollution Prevention Contingency Plans by the current owner of the facility. Violations issued. Response requested by September 30. DEP inspection report.
2025 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups
So far in 2025, DEP received or acted on 135 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.
Failure To Submit July Shale Gas Production/Waste Reports
Apollo Resources LLC
September 18, 2025 notice of violation for failure to submit July production/waste reports for shale gas wells in Centre, Fayette and Washington counties.
LPR Energy LLC
September 18, 2025 notice of violation for failure to submit July production/waste reports for shale gas wells in Bedford, Blair, Centre, Clearfield, Fayette and Somerset counties.
Medina Res Dev Co. LLC
September 18, 2025 notice of violation for failure to submit July production/waste reports for shale gas wells in Waterford Township, Erie County.
Monona LLC
September 18, 2025 notice of violation for failure to submit July production/waste reports for shale gas wells in Fairfield Township, Westmoreland County.
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-- Oil/waste spill NextLVL DEP Contractor for conventional well plugging site; Deitz Gas & Oil Inc. leaking conventional well all but abandoned; Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC shale gas pad spill of “high conductivity fluid” (dark stained areas);
Row 2-- Range Resources Appalachia LLC failed to clean up the latest spill on shale gas well pad; One of three Raymond D. Langer conventional abandoned well sites; Eastern Gas Transmission & Storage, Inc. North Summit Gas Storage Area pipeline rupture.)
[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:
-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Sept. 13 to 19 - Pipeline Rupture At Gas Storage Area; Spill By DEP Plugging Contractor; Failure To Have Shale Gas Emergency, Spill Plans [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - September 20 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 80 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In September 20 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles & NewClips From Last Week - September 22 [PaEN]
Related Article This Week: - Oil & Gas:
-- Independent Research Study By Pitt, Duquesne Ties Water Well Contamination To Shale Gas Drilling In 2 Greene County Townships That Declared Water Disaster Emergencies [PaEN]
-- Federal Court Denies Request For Injunction In Lawsuit By New Freeport Residents Against EQT Gas Drilling Company Over Contaminated Water Supplies in Greene County [PaEN]
-- Permits For Controversial CNX Resources Drakulic Shale Gas Wells Expire Potentially Ending Appeals; CNX Can Apply For New Permits Starting The Process All Over Again [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues Water Quality Approvals For The 23+ Mile National Fuel Gas Tioga Pathways Natural Gas Pipeline Project In McKean, Potter, Tioga Counties [PaEN]
-- Marcellus Drilling News: EQT's Mountain Valley Pipeline Urges WV Appeals Court To Revive Civil Lawsuit Against Pipeline Protesters [Pipeline Finished In June 2024] [PaEN]
-- Protective Buffers PA Hosts Sept. 24 Webinar: Safeguard Our Backyards - Join The Campaign For Health-Based Protective Buffers From Shale Gas Operations [PaEN]
-- Environmental Health Project, Partners Host Sept. 25 Webinar On Health Professionals Toolkit For Protecting Patients From Medical Conditions Related To Oil & Gas Development; [PA Medical Society Learning Center Course Available] [PaEN]
-- Environmental, Health Groups Host Sept. 23 Webinar On What The A.I. Boom Means For You And Society - Big Promise Or Big Problems? [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 40 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In August; 322 In 2025 [PaEN]
-- Gov. Shapiro To Convene 13-State Summit Sept. 22 On Critical Changes Needed At PJM To Keep Energy Costs Low, Bring New Electricity To Grid, Serve Power Demands Of A.I. Data Centers [PaEN]
-- Team PA Releases PA Energy, Data Center, A.I. RoadMap, Includes ‘Aggressively Streamlining Permitting,' Establishing Regional Permitting Commissions [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Pittsburgh Public Source - Quinn Glabicki: Independent Peer-Reviewed Study Ties Water Well Contamination In 2 Greene County Townships To Shale Gas Drilling; Townships Declared Disaster Emergencies Over Water Woes
-- PA Capital-Star/Public Source: Study Ties Southwestern PA Communities’ Water Woes To 2022 Shale Gas Frack-Out, Narrow State Law
-- Courier Times: Federal Pipeline Safety Agency Says Energy Transfer/Sunoco Withheld Information On Jet Fuel Pipeline Leak In Upper Makefield Twp., Bucks County [PDF of Article]
-- TribLive Letter: House Bill 502 Energy Facility Siting Legislation A Betrayal Of Local Communities - By Megan McDonough, Food & Water Watch
-- Williamsport Sun: DEP Report Shares Outline Of Cleanup, Closure Of 3 Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Facilities [PDF of Article]
-- Williamsport Sun: Cleanup Of Spilled Material At One Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Nearly Complete
-- Erie Times Guest Essay: Erie Shale Gas Conference Showcases PA Energy Advantage - By Jim Welty, Marcellus Shale Coalition
-- Observer-Reporter: Investment Firm Purchases Hill Top Energy Power Plant In Greene County To Support A.I. Data Center Development
-- PA Capital-Star: PA Electric Customers Will Pay To Keep An Old Fossil Fuel Power Plant Running Under US DOE Orders
-- Bloomberg: EQT Shale Gas Driller Says High Electric Bills Will Drive Use Of More Natural Gas ‘We’ve Never Produced More Energy… But Americans’ Energy Bills Are Up Over 35%’
-- EPA Convenes A.I. Roundtable Highlighting Permitting Reform To Make US The A.I. Capital of The World
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: LNG Gas Exports Are On A Roll, EQT Is Rolling With It
[Posted: September 20, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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