A third spill at the site was witnessed by DEP during a routine inspection on August 11.
The fourth spill happened on August 14 when EQM reported an estimated 2,520 gallons of bentonite drilling mud was released and found its way into Froman Run, an abandoned water well and another spring.
The other two releases on this same project occurred on July 14 [Read more here] and July 29 which contaminated a roadside spring [Read more here].
Third Spill
DEP posted an inspection report covering a routine inspection of the horizontal drilling site on August 11 where DEP witnessed a third spill occur. DEP inspection report.
“The frac tanks [that were being used to store return fluids] overflowed and turbid waters overtopped secondary containments when the pumps for the dewatering of the conventional bore pit were turned on.
“Turbid waters were observed exiting secondary containments into the pipeline trenches adjacent to the tanks where it was contained.”
New violations were issued related to this spill. DEP inspection report.
Water Supply/Springs
On July 31, 2025, DEP investigated a water supply contamination complaint made on July 30-- after the second spill-- by a nearby landowner saying a spring used to water the garden and “household chores” was contaminated. DEP inspection report.
The landowner was instructed not to use the spring until EQM can investigate and complete remediation.
DEP also reported a roadside spring contaminated by EQM in the July 29 spill was now equipped with a collection system so contaminated water could be removed for treatment. DEP August 14 inspection part 2
Fourth Spill
During the August 14 inspection, DEP found Froman Run appeared turbid and there was “slight boiling/bubbling of grey material along the bank” of a small tributary.
DEP recommended EQM monitor the stream for additional pathways of discharges from the “inadvertent return.”
A private abandoned water well was also discovered during the investigation of the fourth spill and DEP reported a EQM crew was onsite removing grey fluid from the water and pumping it into a tank truck for disposal.
The well could be a pathway to groundwater contamination.
DEP requested a response to the violations by August 22. DEP August 14 inspection part 1. DEP inspection part 2.
DEP Trenchless Drilling Guidance
In February 2024, DEP adopted new technical guidance on the planning and operation of pipeline construction projects using trenchless technology. Read more here.
The guidance was supposed to reduce the significant problems experienced with natural gas pipeline construction all across the state, but in particular with the Energy Transfer/Sunoco Mariner East Pipelines.
The guidance includes sections on site suitability and alternatives analysis, emergency response planning, risk evaluation to water supplies and other features and more.
It is not known whether EQM is following this guidance for the NINFS004 project.
Visit DEP’s Trenchless Technologies Resource Page for more documents related to the technical guidance.
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: EQM pipeline construction Spill #3 - overflowing return fluid storage tanks; Spill #4 - contaminated abandoned water well.)
Resource Links:
[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 - August 16 to 22 - Conventional, Shale Gas Wastewater Spilling All Over, Seeping From Hillsides; 4th Pipeline Construction Spill; Where Did You Put That Waste? [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues Violations For Failing To Report How Waste Was Disposed Of Safely From 133 Conventional Oil & Gas Wells, Including 50 Owned By CNX Gas Company [PaEN]
-- DEP: 3rd & 4th Spills From Horizontal Drilling At EQM Gathering Pipeline Project In Washington County; Overflowing Tanks; Water Supply Complaint Investigated [PaEN]
-- DEP: Contaminated Wastewater Found Seeping From Saturated Shale Gas Well Pad Fill Slope In Great Bend Twp., Susquehanna County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Day 38 Of Cleanup: Borehole Found Under Stormwater Basin During Continuing Cleanup Of Repsol Shale Gas Well Pad After A 34-Hour Uncontrolled Wastewater Release In Bradford County [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - August 23 [PaEN]
-- DEP Now Accepting Bids To Plug 7 Conventional Gas Wells In Washington County [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 57 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In June/July; 282 In 2025 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 61 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In August 23 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners Pushing 3 More Ways To Legalize Road Dumping Their Wastewater; Not Clear How The Public, Put At Risk By Dumping, Will Be Involved [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Low Flow Water Conditions Trigger Water Withdrawal Restrictions On 47 Shale Gas Development Water Withdrawal Points In PA [PaEN]
-- Joint State Government Committee Identifies 382 Potential Sites For Geothermal Facilities Using Abandoned Mine Pools; Geothermal Energy Could Reduce A.I. Data Center Energy Demand By 30-40% [PaEN]
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles & NewClips From Last Week - August 24 [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: More Than 1.3 Million Gallons Of Oil & Gas Wastewater Stored At Eureka Resources Facility In Williamsport Without Required Alarms Among Violations DEP Issued 10 Days Prior To River Spill
-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Initial Radioactivity Scan Show No Elevated Levels From Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Spill In Williamsport
-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Volunteers Find Persistent Oily Waste From Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant Spill In Williamsport; Advise Public To Avoid Recreational Use Of River For Now
-- PennLive - John Beauge: DEP Issued Violation 10 Days Before Tank At Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Facility Leaked Oily Discharge Into Susquehanna River
-- PennLive - John Beauge: Oily Substance From Tank In Closed Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant Leaks Into Susquehanna River [PDF of Article]
-- Williamsport Sun: Extensive Cleanup Underway After Oil Substance Leaks Into River In Williamsport [PDF of Article]
-- The Derrick: Leak Found In Service Station Underground Gasoline Tank In Downtown Titusville, Crawford County
-- Post-Gazette/Inside Climate News: Pennsylvania Lured The Shell Petrochemical Plant To The State With A $1.65 Billion Tax Break, Now The Company Wants To Sell The Plant
-- PA Capital-Star/Inside Climate News: Pennsylvania Lured The Shell Petrochemical Plant To The State With A $1.65 Billion Tax Break, Now The Company Wants To Sell The Plant
-- The Allegheny Front/Inside Climate News: Pennsylvania Lured The Shell Petrochemical Plant To The State With A $1.65 Billion Tax Break, Now The Company Wants To Sell The Plant
-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Natural Gas Remains ‘Keystone’ Of Future Economic Growth [PDF of Article]
-- Reuters: Drop In Natural Gas Demand Signals 2 Top LNG Gas Exports Facilities May Have Outages
-- The Guardian: US Pipeline Protester’s Obstruction Conviction Overturned By Minnesota Appeals Court Finding ‘Pervasive’ Prosecutorial Misconduct
[Posted: August 23, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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