Shale gas well permits on this site were the subject of appeals to the Environmental Hearing Board and Commonwealth Court by both Protect PT, a local citizen group, and CNX for several years. Read more here.
Protect PT appealed the original permits, citing dangers to local residents including the lack of an evacuation plan for nearly 1,000 people living within a half mile and approximately 3,000 people living within a mile of the well, the proximity of the wells to both a daycare center and the Heritage Trail, and the likelihood of harmful chemical exposure to the local community through air and water. Read more here.
The Environmental Hearing Board upheld the issuance of the permits, but both Protect PT and CNX appealed the decision to Commonwealth Court for different reasons.
The original permits for two shale gas wells expired on August 17, 2025 ending the appeals. Read more here.
Sept. 2 Inspection
DEP said the “gravel access road appeared to have been removed and the area appeared to be regraded and seeded and mulched with vegetative growth observed.”
“However, it did not appear the site has achieved 70% uniform vegetative growth.”
The Department recommended the operator continue to monitor the well site and reseed and mulch as necessary in order to achieve adequate vegetative growth for permanent stabilization.
All compost filter socks appeared to have been removed, however there did not appear to be any potential for erosion or sedimentation issues.
“Based on today's inspection, the NOT [Notice of Termination] is being denied as the site does not appear to have been permanently stabilized with 70% uniform vegetative growth, and a Post Drilling Well Site Restoration Report has not yet been approved by the Department.”
Multiple violations were issued, including failure to restore the well site prior to the expiration of erosion and sedimentation control permit on September 2.
DEP requested a response by September 24.
Click Here for the DEP inspection report + photos.
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.
[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 Weekly Compliance Snapshot - September 12 to 18
-- DEP - Day 23: Cleanup Of 336,000 Gallon Spill Of Fracking Flowback Fluid From An Uncontrolled Shale Gas Well Continues At INR OPR LLC Pad In Young Twp., Indiana County [PaEN]
-- DEP - Day 5,284: Pressure Testing Confirms Shale Gas Well Casing/Cementing Failure Continues At EXCO Resources PA Well Pad In Sullivan County [PaEN]
-- DEP - Day 14: No Action Taken At K Petroleum Inc. Shale Gas Well Site Where Contaminated Water Found Flowing Down Side Of Storage Tank In Washington County [PaEN]
[Posted: September 16, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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