PA Environment Digest Blog: Springhill Township Becomes 2nd Township To Declare Disaster Emergency After Residents Were Impacted By A Gas Related Water Contamination Event In Greene County

On August 7, 2025, Springhill Township Supervisors in Greene County adopted and now filed a Disaster Emergency Declaration after their residents were impacted by a gas related water contamination event that left homes without permanent water supplies for three years.

The action follows Freeport Township which adopted its Disaster Emergency on June 23, 2025. Read more here.

Springhill Township has a population of about 211 and Freeport Township has about 238 people.

Guy Hostutler, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors in Freeport Township, said, “I'm not blaming anybody for anything that they've done, right, wrong or indifferent.

“It's just the fact that if it's just one resident or 100 residents without drinking water, it's not right.

“In 2025, we should not have residents who can't drink their water. We should be able to have good, clean drinking water, a sustainable water system for them to live off of the rest of their days.

“So that's been my whole purpose for this. It's been a battle.”

Both Disaster Declarations refer to a June 19, 2022 where EQT reported a “possible communication” [a.k.a. “Frack-out”] incident between its 13H lateral shale gas well and an abandoned conventional oil or gas well while fracking two new wells at its Lumber pad in neighboring Springhill Township.

[Read DEP’s June 23, 2022 inspection report with initial violations for the incident + EQT’s response]

A “frack-out” occurs when millions of gallons of fracking fluid is pumped down a shale gas well under pressure to fracture shale rock to promote natural gas flow, but instead finds another oil and gas well or water well and follows that well up to groundwater aquifers and sometimes blows out on the ground surface like a geyser.

The abandoned well EQT referred to was the Fox Hill 1 conventional well in Freeport Township very close to the community of New Freeport in the Township.

On August 11, 2022, EQT said after its investigation, the company “adopted” and now owns the abandoned well and said it would take steps to permanently plug it.

In November, 2022, DEP issued multiple violations to EQT for failure to plug the Fox Hill I well DEP said in its inspection report “was altered by hydraulic fracturing.”

[Note: After additional testing in 2024, EQT began plugging the well in December 2024. They ran into significant problems with plugging because of damage to the well and are still working at it as of August 21, 2025.]

Hostutler said since the June 2022 incident, approximately 100 people with contaminated water wells are now on water buffaloes, temporary water supply tanks that are filled as needed to supply water to homes for all uses.

Hostutler said he is familiar with the kind of water contamination oil and gas operations can cause because he worked in the industry for 25+ years.

Hostutler characterized the June 2022 incident as a “bright line.”

“We had no complaints of any issues with any shallow wells, whether they be oil and gas or water until after the event on June the 19th of 2022,” said Hostutler.

Oil and gas inspection records from DEP back that up. Read more here.

Text Of Springhill Disaster Emergency

The following is the text of the Disaster Emergency adopted by Springhill Township Supervisors, Greene County on August 7, 2025--

WHEREAS, on or about June 19, 2022, a contamination event occurred which has caused or threatens to cause injury, damage, and suffering to people and property of Springhill Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, the "disaster" has endangered or will endanger the health, safety and welfare of several persons residing in Springhill Township, and threatens to create problems greater in scope to the aquifer underlying Springhill Township and which may not be resolved without the appropriate public and/or private funds; and

WHEREAS, there is no public water system located in Springhill Township that may be used by residents; and

WHEREAS, certain individuals with wells which implement the aquifer have since June 19, 2022, noticed discoloration, odor and skin rashes when using from their private wells; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Environmental Protection and EQT Production

Company have been notified in writing that the water from the aquifer is hazardous and unsafe for use; and

WHEREAS, the test results of the water supply show contamination associated with the private residential water wells of Springhill Township and adjoining townships; and

WHEREAS, the Springhill Township Board of Supervisors believes it to be in the best interests, safety and welfare of its residents to adopt this Declaration; and

NOW THEREFORE, the undersigned Supervisors of Springhill Township, pursuant to the provisions of Section 7501 of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Services Code (35 Pa. C.S. Section 7501 et. seq.), as amended, do hereby proclaim the existence of a disaster emergency in Springhill Township.

This declaration shall take effect immediately.

ENACTED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors of Springhill Township this 7th Day, August, 2025

SPRINGHILL TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Danny Ross, Chairman

Richard Debolt, Vice-Chairman

Bruce Johnson, Supervisory

Richard Kerch, Secretary, ATTEST

(Maps: DEP showing shale gas well laterals from the EQT Lumber (13H well fracked-out) and Spleen Splitter shale gas well pads - Red Dot Is Fox Hill 1 conventional well impacted by fracking, The grey boxes to right on the map are longwall coal mining panels; Below - General location map; DEP map shows all conventional (blue dots) and shale gas (red dots) in and around Freeport Township - Yellow X is Fox Hill 1 conventional well impacted by fracking)

NewsClip:

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Greene County Townships Declare Disaster Emergency Three Years After EQT Frack Job [PDF of Article]

Resources Links - Freeport Area Frack-Out:

-- Freeport Township Declares Disaster Emergency After Residents Impacted By A Gas Related Water Contamination Event Have Been Without Permanent Water Supplies For 3 Years-- We’re Not Blaming Anybody, We Just Want Good, Clean Drinking Water [PaEN]

-- Observer-Reporter: Ongoing Water Donation Drive Helping Dozens Of Greene County Families Who Haven’t Had Clean Drinking Water Since June Following Alleged ‘Frack-Out’ At Natural Gas Well Site [PaEN -11.13.22]

-- Center For Coalfield Justice Holds First Water Distribution Day Nov. 19 To Help Provide Families Drinking Water In Greene County Following Alleged ‘Frack-Out’ At Natural Gas Well Site In June [PaEN - 11.18.22]

-- Oil & Gas Industry Impacts: Families Affected By Alleged ‘Frack-Out’ In Greene County Have A Little Happier Holiday Thanks To Water Donated By Center For Coalfield Justice [PaEN -12.20.22]

-- DEP- EQT Settlement Agreement Allows Fracking To Resume From 2 Shale Gas Well Pads In Area Impacted By Frack-Out In New Freeport, Greene County; Does Not Address Water Supply Issues Of Residents [11.30.23]

--DEP Issues Violations To 3 Shale Gas Drillers For Failing To Report Fracking Chemicals, Including At EQT’s Lumber Well Pad In Greene County [9.27.24]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Aug. 30 to Sept. 5 - 2nd Township Declares Disaster Emergency; New Shale Gas Well Casing/Cement Failure; 100 Conventional Well Owners Get Violations For Abandoning Wells [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - Sept. 6 [PaEN]