DEP: Contaminated Water Storage Tank At Abandoned Conventional Oil Well Site Sat Broken Open For Nearly 3 Years With No Response From Owner In Clover Twp., Jefferson County

On July 9, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection found a storage tank for contaminated water from the abandoned Allegheny Natural Resources, Inc. Lee Spangler 4 conventional oil well in Clover Township, Jefferson County was broken open and showing evidence of a discharge.

DEP noted at some point the tank discharge pipe became disconnected from the tank and drained oil and contaminated fluid into secondary containment around the tank.

DEP inspected the tank on Oct. 26, 2023 and Dec. 7, 2023 and found the well was abandoned at that time and the tank broken open and recommended the tank be replaced “immediately.” No violations were issued.

The well owner also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports since 2019.

DEP’s July 9 inspection report said an inspector in 2023 tried to contact the well owner who was sent the inspection reports, but without success.

Multiple violations were issued on July 9 and a response requested from the well owner by August 15. 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: Tank broken open - October 2023, December 2023; Row 2- July 2026)

[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.]

Related Articles This Week:

-- DEP: Equitrans Water SVC LLC [EQT] Suffers Another Contaminated Water Release From Buried Shale Gas Wastewater Pipeline In Aleppo Twp., Greene County  [PaEN]

-- DEP: INR Midstream LLC Failed To Prevent Accelerated Erosion, Sedimentation Along Cooper To Jost Van Dyke Gas & Water Pipelines Construction Right-Of-Way In Young Twp., Indiana County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Contaminated Water Storage Tank At Abandoned Conventional Oil Well Site Sat Broken Open For Nearly 3 Years With No Response From Owner In Clover Twp., Jefferson County  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Crude Oil Gathering Pipeline Failure In Conventional Oil Well Field Contaminated 750 Feet Of Chappel Fork Creek In Hamilton Twp., McKean County  [PaEN]  

[Posted: July 22, 2026]  PA Environment Digest