Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between March 29 to April 4--
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 March 28--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 100 conventional, 28 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 1,201 conventional and 323 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2025: 114 conventional and 45 unconventional (orders, agreements)
-- Inspections Last Week: 364 conventional and 417 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 4,898 conventional and 7,012 unconventional
Shale Gas Driller Fails To Restore 3 MG Impoundment For Nearly 8 Years
On April 1, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection inspected the Winner 6 shale gas well pad and 3 million gallon water impoundment in East Keating Township, Clinton County owned by Frontier Natural Resources and found the pad and impoundment had not been restored. DEP issued the original violations for failure to restore the well pad and the water impoundment on July 14, 2017. Read more here.
Nearly 7 Year Struggle Continues To Cleanup Conventional Well Spills
Among the DEP Oil and Gas inspection reports this week was an April 3 inspection of the Buhl Farm 1 conventional oil well owned by Edward W. Benko in Economy Borough, Beaver County. For nearly seven years-- since July 18, 2018 when the spills were first discovered-- DEP has been trying to work with Benko to get the multiple spills at the site cleaned up. Read more here.
12 Abandoned Conventional Wells
DEP has a new initiative underway in 2025 to inspect conventional oil and gas wells that have never been inspected before to “ensure the safest oil and gas production possible.”
The Pecan Explorations, Inc. and Larry A. Shaffer Jr. well inspections on State Game Lands are the first in this new series.
Pencan Explorations Inc. - Violations: 6 Abandoned Conventional Wells
March 7, 2025 inspections of 6 conventional wells on State Game Lands in Cranberry Township, Venango County found them abandoned and not plugged.
DEP’s reports note “This report is part of a 2025 Department initiative to record the current status of never-inspected wells in Pennsylvania and ensure the safest oil and gas production possible.”
The wells include-- State Game Lands 45M6, State Game Lands 45WJ3, State Game Lands 45WJ8, State Game Lands TRM9, SGL 45 George Myers Tract M8; State Game Lands 45M5.
Violations issued for abandonment and failure to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Response requested by April 15. Pencan holds 60 permits.
Larry A. Shaffer Jr. - Violations: 3 Abandoned Conventional Wells
March 7, 2025 inspections of three conventional wells on State Game Lands in Cranberry Township, Venango County found the wells abandoned and not plugged.
DEP’s reports note “This report is part of a 2025 Department initiative to record the current status of never-inspected wells in Pennsylvania and ensure the safest oil and gas production possible.”
The wells include-- SGL 45WJ4; SGL 45WJ5; and SGL 45WJ9.
Violations issued for abandonment and failure to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Response requested by April 30. Shaffer holds 3 permits.
Ows Acquisition Co. LLC - Violations: 2 Abandoned Conventional Wells
On April 1, 2025 DEP inspected the R&F Thompson 3 and R&F Thompson 4 conventional gas wells in Springfield Township, Mercer County in response to a complaint and found #4 was abandoned and not plugged and #3 has a rapid, steady, bubbling gas leak.
For well #4 - violations were issued for well abandonment, failure to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. DEP inspection report.
For well #3- a violation was continued from April 19, 2021 for failing to submit a well integrity report. No violations were issued for leaking gas. The owner made arrangements to have the leak repaired. DEP inspection report.
Responses requested by May 1. Ows Acquisition holds 1,072 permits.
Apollo Resources LLC - Violations: Abandoned Conventional Well
March 14, 2025 inspection of the Kovalish 1 conventional well in Derry Township, Westmoreland County found the well abandoned and not plugged. Original violation issued on November 16, 2023. Violations continued. Response requested by April 14. DEP inspection report. Apollo holds 1,896 permits.
Fortress Energy Corp. - Violations: Well Plugging Erosion Violations, No Waste Disposal Plan
March 31, 2025 inspection of the Sara Gorley 963 conventional well plugging site and access road in Luzerne Township, Fayette County found significant erosion and sedimentation violations and failure to comply with permit requirements. DEP also requested a Waste Control and Disposal Plan for the site. Violations issued. Response requested by April 9. DEP inspection report. Fortress Energy holds 23 permits.
Methane Reduction Plugging Grants
Curtis Oil Inc.
April 1, 2025 inspections of four conventional wells in Otto Township, McKean County related to MERP Well Plugging Grant Program.
125 Abandoned Conventional, 39 Abandoned Shale Gas Well Violations 2025
Abandoned Conventional: So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 125 violations to 41 conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells- [3D Resources LLC ; Amer Natural Resources LLC; WB Anderson; Apollo Resources LLC; Baird Oil Co.; Bialy Gas Production LLC; Chris E. Burke; Edward E. & Frederick J. Craig; Crude A Co - Randy L. Larkin; Randy A. Dietterich; Diversified Production LLC; Equitrans LP; EQT Production Co.; Keystone Crude LLC; Kiski Valley Gas Co.; Leechburg Gas Co.; Manufacturers Light & Heat Co; Mid East Oil Co.; MTN Energy; Charles E. Myers; Myers Gas; Oil & Gas MGMT Co. LLC, PA Mineral SVCS LLC; PBS Coals Inc; Pencan Explorations Inc.; Pillar Energy PA, LLC; Pin Oak Energy Partners, LLC; Red Lion Gas Coop Assn; Reel Resources, Inc; Raymond Sawyer; Fred C. Scheel; SK Opr Inc.; Larry A. Shaffer Jr.; Stockman LLC; Stonehaven Energy MGT Co. LLC; Andrew F. Suchko; Thomas Thurma Jean; Timberline Energy, Inc.; Vessels Coal Gas Inc.; Washington Energy Co LLC; Ronald Wise; Mary A. Woodring].
In 2024, DEP issued 860 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.
In 2023, DEP issued 512 violations to conventional well owners for abandonment.
Abandoned Shale Gas: So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 40 violations to 10 shale gas drilling companies for abandoning and not plugging their wells-- [Anegada Energy LLC; Apex Energy (PA) LLC; Blackhill Energy LLC; Diversified Production LLC; Diversified Production LLC; EQT ARO LLC; EQT Chap LLC; EQT Production Co.; Rice Drilling B LLC; Roulette Oil & Gas LLC; Taft Operating LLC].
In 2024, 47 violations were issued or continued to 12 shale gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.
In 2023, DEP issued or continued 20 violations to 10 shale gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells. Read more here.
Spills & Releases
Big Dog Energy LLC - Violations: Failure To Cleanup Shale Gas Spills
March 25, 2025 inspection of the Schimizzi S&M 1 shale gas well site in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County found no action to cleanup spills, lack of containment and an emergency plan onsite first identified on January 3, 2023. Owner did not respond to 2023 notices of violations. Well drilled in 2005 (or so) and waste disposed of onsite in 2010. This well had a string of violations since it was first drilled. Violations from previous inspections continued. No response requested. DEP inspection report. Big Dog Energy holds 26 permits.
Dakota Oil & Gas Co. - Violations: Wastewater Spill
March 26, 2025 inspection of the McVey 1 conventional well in Upper Burrell Township, Westmoreland County found evidence of wastewater spills at multiple locations. Violations issued. Requested to respond by April 11. DEP inspection report. Dakota Oil holds 326 permits.
2025 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups
So far in 2025, DEP received or acted on 41 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.
Leaking Gas
D&M Painting Corp - Violations: Leaking Gas, No Annual Reports
March 27, 2025 inspection of the Pizzi 2 conventional gas well in Amwell Township, Washington County found the well leaking gas in two places and the owner failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Violations issued. Response requested by April 17. DEP inspection report. D&M Painting holds 3 permits.
Water Supply/Stray Gas Investigation
US Energy Exploration Corp - Violations: Leaking Gas, Integrity Failure
March 26, 2025 inspection of the Fred A. Musser GW1840 conventional gas well in Armstrong Township, Indiana County as a result of a water supply/stray gas complaint found the well leaking gas and with signs of well integrity failure. Slam bar holes around the well found gas. This well is about 1,700 feet from the complainant’s water well. Violations issued. Response requested by April 14. DEP inspection report. US Energy holds 1,147 oil and gas well permits.
Defective Shale Well Casing/Cement
Coterra Energy Inc. - Violations: Defective Well Casing/Cement (63 Months)
March 18, 2025 inspections of the Powers 2H, 8H and 12H shale gas wells in Auburn Township, Susquehanna County for ongoing monitoring of well annuli for gas leaks found no leaks. Original violations issued on October 18, 2019 for defective well casing/cement. Violations were continued and monitoring will continue. DEP inspection report.
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC - Violations: Defective Well Casing/Cement, Plug Failure (39 Months)
March 7, 2025 inspection of the Epsilon Blanche Poulsen 1-2H shale gas well in Auburn Township, Susquehanna County for ongoing monitoring of this plugged well found continued gas flow within the well. Original violations issued November 18, 2021. Violations continued. No response requested of owner. DEP inspection report.
Failure To Obtain Encroachment Permit
Archaea CCS, LLC - Violations: Failure To Obtain Permits
On March 13, 2025, DEP sent a notice of violation to the company developing a carbon sequestration well site in Throop Borough, Lackawanna County citing them for failing to obtain a permit for earth disturbances in a forested wetland adjacent to the site access road. To resolve the violations, DEP requests the company to submit a Chapter 105 application within 30 days. DEP also continued erosion and sedimentation violations issued on February 4, 2025 at the access road and site. DEP inspection report. Archaea CCS, LLC holds 2 permits.
Pipeline Violations
Laurel Mountain Production Water Pipeline - Violations: Failure To Obtain Permits
On April 1, 2025 DEP issued a notice of violation for failing to obtain a permit for the Ken Black Water Pipeline route running through Perry Township, Armstrong County and Parker Township, Butler County. DEP said the pipeline route kept changing starting with permit applications submitted in 2022. At least one section of the pipeline was installed across a former surface mining location without approval. Multiple violations were issued for failing to obtain a permit, comply with earlier permit conditions on sections of the pipeline that did not move and locating the pipeline in a roadside ditch in violation of the permit. No deadline was set for a response.
EQT Prod. Co. Water Pipeline - Violations: Failure To Obtain Permit
On March 31, 2025, an administrative inspection of the Energy Cynic To Soles Water Pipeline in Springhill Township, Greene County found the pipeline project was operating under expired GP-8 earth disturbance permit. A new application was submitted March 26. Response requested by April 15. DEP inspection report.
EQM Gathering OPCC LLC - Violations: Recurring Slope Failure
On March 28, 2025 an inspection of the NIDBS006-NIDBH006 & Beacon Dehy/Interconnect Pipeline in Gilmore Township, Greene County found a slope failure in the same area as two other slope failures in 2024. Violations issued for recurring violations. Response requested by April 7. DEP inspection report.
MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC - Violations: Slope Failure, Erosion Controls
March 13, 2025 inspection of the Brownlee To Timber Lake Pipeline in Buffalo Township, Washington County found some erosion and sedimentation violations address, but a slope failure, other stormwater and BMP maintenance violations were not. Original violations issued December 12, 2024. Violations continued. No response requested. 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-- Archaea CCS, LLC wetlands violations at carbon sequestration well site; Fortress Energy Corp. conventional well plugging site erosions violations; Ows Acquisition Co. LLC conventional well gas leak; Row 2-- Edward W. Benko failed to cleanup conventional well spill for 81 months; Fortress Energy Corp. failed to restore shale gas water impoundment for nearly 8 years-- 2017 and 2025 photos; D&M Painting Corp conventional well leaking gas; Row 3-- EQM Gathering OPCC LLC pipeline recurring slope failure; Apollo Resources LLC abandoned conventional well; MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC pipeline slope failure, erosion issues not addressed.)
[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: Shale Gas Driller Failed To Restore 3 Million Gallon Water Impoundment, Well Site For Nearly 8 Years In Clinton County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Nearly 7 Year Struggle Continues To Cleanup Multiple Conventional Oil Well Spills At Site In Economy Borough, Beaver County [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - April 5 [PaEN]
-- Environmental Quality Board Invites Comments On Spill Notification Regulation Changes; May 15 Virtual Hearing [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission April 24 Hearing On Water Withdrawal Requests, Including Renewal Of 2 Shale Gas Water Projects [PaEN]
-- DEP To Use General Permit To Implement New Federal Oil & Gas Facility Methane Reduction Regulation [PaEN]
-- DEP Announces Availability Of Air Quality General Permit For Gaseous Fuel-Fired Spark Ignition Internal Combustion Engines (GP-16) [Copy of GP-16]
-- DEP Posted 83 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In April 5 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Article This Week:
-- Environmental Health Project Releases New White Paper: PA's Shale Gas - What We Can Do Now To Better Protect Public Health [PaEN]
-- Environmental Health Project: Lois Bower-Bjornson Shares Her First-Hand Experiences With Shale Gas Health, Environmental Impacts In Washington County [PaEN]
-- Environmental Hearing Board Denies EQT Shale Gas Motion To Exclude Evidence Of Medical Conditions, Toxicology Reports Related To A Landowner Appeal Of A DEP Water Supply Contamination Determination [PaEN]
-- House Environmental Committee Meets April 7 On Bill To Establish DEP Environmental Justice Permit Review Program To Analyze, Consider Cumulative Impacts Of Pollution From Some New Facilities [PaEN]
-- DEP Climate Change Committee Meets April 22 On Microgrids, Abandoned Oil & Gas Well Plugging, Update On Federal Clean Energy, Climate Funding Programs [PaEN]
-- Marcellus Drilling News: PA Supreme Court Upholds Rule Of Capture In Resurrected Trespass Case [PDF of Article]
-- Guest Essay: The Real Waste In Pennsylvania Government - Criticizing The Right Of Citizens To Petition Their Government For Change - By Terrie Baumgardner, Resident Of Aliquippa, Clean Air Council Outreach Coordinator [PaEN]
-- Utility Dive: US DOE Offers 2 National Energy Technology Laboratory Sites In Pittsburgh For Colocating Data Centers, Related Power Plants [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: PA Health Advocates Say Gov. Shapiro Has Let Residents Down On Shale Gas Fracking Protections
-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Still Room For Frontline Community Protections From Shale Gas Impacts In Gov. Shapiro’s ‘Lightning’ Energy Plan - By Alison Steele, Environmental Health Project
-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: Chesapeake Energy, Fined $1.9 Million For Damaging Wetlands In PA, Is On New Federal ‘Fast Track’ Permit Approval List
-- TribLive: Decision On 2nd Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well In Plum Boro, Allegheny County To Come In June, Zoning Board Says
-- Bradford Era: Another Oil & Gas Wastewater Injection Well Proposed In McKean County; Hearing Will Only Be Held By Public Request [PDF of Article]
-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Karl Blankenship: Report Says Pennsylvania Poised To Be Geothermal Energy Leader
-- Wall Street Journal: Homer City Coal Power Plant Was Just Imploded To Make Way For An A.I. Data Center, The Country’s Largest Natural Gas Power Plant [PDF of Article]
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Homer City Reinventing Itself As Datacenter Campus With Lots Of Natural Gas Power To Supply It
-- TribLive: Homer City Site: Large Gas-Fired Power Plant To Support Data Center
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Homer City Coal Power Plant Site To Become A.I. Data Center With Massive Gas-Fired Power Plant
-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Sen. Yaw’s Bill To Prohibit Bans Of Any Energy Sources Correct
-- Energy Choice Matters: Peoples Natural Gas Rate For Gas To Increase Another 14% April 1
-- Altoona Mirror: Peoples Natural Gas Raises Gas Rate Another 14% April 1
-- Reuters: Oil, Gas, Refined Product Imports Exempt From President’s Tariffs [The Things They Buy Are Not]
-- The Center Square: Critics: Climate Change Lawsuit Against Oil & Gas Companies On Tenuous Legal Grounds [Bucks County Example]
[Posted: April 5, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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