DEP’s inspection found the fill slope was saturated with contaminated fluid and seeping from multiple areas into a nearby stormwater bioretention basin.
There was a ponded area of contaminated fluid at the outlet pipe for the basin where fluid was actively discharging from the basin.
A saturated area of contaminated soil extended from the basin outlet about 50 to 100 feet into a tree line.
The area of saturated soil ended downslope of the tree line going about 50 feet into a small tributary that flowed into the Susquehanna River.
The source and volume of what DEP called “production wastewater” in its inspection report is unknown, “but they assume it is related to recent [shale gas well] completion activity at the site.”
Violations were issued. Response requested by August 26. DEP August 5 inspection report.
[Note: SWN Production Co. LLC is now Expand Energy Corp.]
Follow-Up Inspection
DEP did a follow-up inspection at the well pad on August 11, 2025 in response to a notification by SWN Production Co that an additional wastewater seep was discovered at the toe of the same fill slope.
Since the August 5 inspection, an area at the bottom of the fill slope was excavated and [unlined] sumps built to collect the wastewater coming through the fill slope.
The collected fluid is being sent to frac tanks on site and water trucks then take it for disposal.
The inspection report still did not identify the source of the wastewater. DEP August 11 inspection report.
DEP has not filed an inspection report on this site since August 11.
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: Aug. 5 Inspection - Saturated soil at foot of fill slope; Wastewater in drainage swale; Discharge from stormwater pond; Conductivity measure in small stream leading to Susquehanna River; Aug. 11 Inspection - Excavated [unlined] sumps at the foot of the fill slope; A deep [unlined] sump where the wastewater is leaking out; 2nd sump built next to stormwater pond.)
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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