PA Environment Digest Blog: Media Reports: An Estimated 16,000 Gallons Of 'Black Goop' Spills From Closed Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Plant In Williamsport Reaching Susquehanna River

[Updated] On August 17, an estimated 16,000 gallons of oil and gas wastewater spilled from a corroded storage tank at the closed Second Street Eureka Resources oil and wastewater treatment facility in Williamsport, Lycoming County.

Two Susquehanna River fishermen discovered the "black goop" when they were fishing in the Susquehanna River, according to PennLive.

DEP's Emergency Response Team found a sampling port failed in a corroded 26,000 gallon storage tank at the Eureka plant that spurted oil and gas wastewater beyond the containment around the tank and into storm drains that ended in the river above the Hepburn Street Dam, according to PennLive.

Drone surveys by the Williamsport Fire Department found an oil slick extended downstream several miles into Loyalsock Township, according to PennLive.

The Williamsport Sanitary Authority, not Eureka Resources, engaged an environmental cleanup firm to stop the wastewater from draining into the River and start the process of cleaning up the spill outside the treatment facility, according to PennLive.

A contractor for the Authority-- Eagle Response Services-- stopped the leak in the storage tank inside the Eureka facility at the direction of the Authority, cleaned the storm drain and pipes into a pump station that pushes water into the river, according to PennLive.

As a precaution, PA American Water’s drinking water plant in Milton was notified and they are monitoring intake water, but so far there are no apparent problems, according to PennLive.

Both DEP and the Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper did scans of the oil and gas wastewater at multiple locations and found radiation levels were not elevated beyond normal background levels. Read more here.

The Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper reported an oily sheen on the Susquehanna River, a strong smell of oil and said an oily coating covered some rocks along the shoreline downstream from the outfall point. Read more here.

"Fluids used in the fracking industry continue to be shrouded in mystery, with most of us unaware of the full set of compounds in most of what may be used," said John Zaktansky, Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper. "This incident is another example of why we need more transparency in what chemicals continue to be pumped into our environment because eventually, they are going to have an impact on us and we need to be ready to respond.”

In a statement released Friday, Aug. 22, Megan Lehman, DEP Regional Communications Manager said, “DEP is working closely with the PA Fish and Boat Commission, Williamsport Sanitary Authority, Lycoming County Emergency Management Agency, City of Williamsport, and Williamsport Fire Department.

“DEP will explore all options and resources for carrying out cleanup efforts, which will continue as long as necessary.

“To prevent additional releases to the river, the ongoing cleanup efforts are currently focused on the Eureka facility and the connected stormwater system to remove any remaining pooled material.

“Representatives from DEP’s Waste Management program have taken samples from the site, including of the spilled material, and in the river above and below the point of discharge to be tested for constituents of petroleum products and radioactive material.”

“Based on all available information, DEP determined it was not necessary to recommend a broad-based restriction on public access to the river.”
“DEP has been closely monitoring the status of all three of Eureka Resources’ facilities and has taken several actions as materials stored at the various sites began to exceed the one-year threshold of waste being stored on site.

“On July 9, 2025, DEP issued an Administrative Order and Assessment of Civil Penalty for the Catawissa Avenue (aka Reach Road) Williamsport facility.

“DEP also continues to work through a similar enforcement process for the Standing Stone Bradford County facility.”

DEP Released These Inspection Reports & Photos:

DEP Aug. 18 Inspection Report (covers Aug. 17 response)

DEP Aug. 19 Inspection Report- 1

DEP Aug. 19 Inspection Report- 2

DEP Aug. 20 Inspection Report

DEP Aug. 21 Inspection Report

Aug. 19 DEP Order - Second Street

On August 19, DEP issued an Order to Eureka Resources to take steps to prevent more wastewater from being released off site.

Eureka was also ordered to submit a plan by August 25 for DEP’s approval to cleanup and remove the oil and gas liquid waste from the facility, the storm drains and other drainage ways at the plant site.

The waste must be removed within 30 days of the Order.

The Order says Eureka operates 70 waste storage tanks at the facility with a capacity of 1,535,587 gallons.

DEP said as of August 1, 2025, Eureka stored approximately 1,378,897 gallons of oil and gas wastewater at the facility since July 1, 2024 without treating it.

In addition, DEP’s order said a majority of the tanks at the site had their spill alarms disconnected or they are inoperable.

Within 30 days of the order, Eureka is to take steps to make sure the alarms are again functioning and cannot accept more waste at the facility until the alarms are fixed.

Click Here for a copy of the order.

Aug. 1 DEP Inspection - Second Street

Both PennLive and the Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper reported that on Aug. 1, 2025, DEP inspected the Eureka Resources Second Street facility and found several notable violations, including a lack of high-level alarms on a majority of the tanks the company uses to store fracking wastewater – including Tank N3.

On Aug. 7, the agency issued an official notice of violation for these infractions, which also included storage of waste for more than a year (Eureka’s records indicated approximately 1,378,897 gallons of oil and gas liquid waste has been stored at the site since July 1, 2024) and lack of sufficient freeboard on Tank B8.

Freeboard is the portion of a tank not used to store liquids.

Just 10 days later the spill occurred.

"Quite a bit of the details in this court order stand out. The fact that this spill could have been avoided if Eureka had properly responded to the notice of violation DEP issued just 10 days before is frustrating," said Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper John Zaktansky. "The thought that high-level alarms were not only missing, but also intentionally disconnected in some cases is ridiculous. And, the realization that there is more than 1,300,000 more gallons of this stuff sitting in tanks at this facility so close to the river is highly concerning.”

"As we have said in previous updates on this situation, holding the appropriate parties accountable for this pollution case needs to be a priority."

Catawissa Avenue Facility

On July 9, 2025, DEP issued another order to Eureka Resources related to violations at its closed Catawissa Avenue Treatment Facility in Williamsport requiring the removal of all oil and gas wastewater from that facility.

The order said DEP found a significant amount of oil and gas wastewater remained on the site without being treated for more than a year during an April 14, 2025 inspection of the facility.

DEP said a 1.5 million gallon storage tank containing waste had liquid at a level of 53 feet during the inspection, but did not estimate its volume.

DEP said records submitted by Eureka reported only 31,080 gallons of waste were accepted by the facility and 22,134 gallons were removed from the site during 2024.

The order requires Eureka to remove all oil and gas liquid waste by October 7-- within 90 days of the order.

The order contains no civil or stipulated penalties.

Click Here for a copy of the order.

Standing Stone Facility

On January 29, 2025, DEP signed a Consent Order and Agreement with Eureka Resources related to violations at its closed Standing Stone Treatment Facility, in Standing Stone Township, Bradford County.

The order outlines 21 pages of violations at the facility related to handling and storing waste, storage tank violations and lack of tank integrity testing, fluid releases, failure to submit discharge reports related to on-site wastewater treatment and many more.

The order listed 6 pages of actions Eureka was required to take to bring the facility into compliance, including payment of $375 in overdue storage tank registration fees.

The order does not include any civil penalties, but does include stipulated penalties of $100/day if the order is violated.

DEP said Friday it “continues to work through” the enforcement process with the Standing Stone Facility.

Click Here for a copy of the order.

The Standing Stone Facility was shut down in July 2024 and deserted with all the equipment and full wastewater tanks left unsecured. The telephone was disconnected. Read more here.

Violations issued by DEP at that plant date back at least February 2023.

In September, 2022, a worker at the plant was killed and Eureka Resources was fined by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration for safety violations. Read more here.

(Photos: Row 1-- Inside Eureka Plant after spill (Lycoming County Dept. of Public Safety/PennLive); Inside plant (DEP inspection); Hole in storage tank with temporary plug (DEP inspection); Row 2-- Outfall point into Susquehanna River (DEP inspection); Oily sheen on the river (Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper).)

NewsClips - Second Ave. Plant:

-- 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

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Initial Radioactivity Scan Show No Elevated Levels From Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Spill In Williamsport

-- 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

-- 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]

Resource Links - Eureka Resources:

-- Former Employees Of Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Company Ask For Criminal Investigation Of Eureka And An Audit Of DEP Over Alleged Workplace, Environmental Violations [PaEN]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Eureka Resources Plans To Close/Sell 2 Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Plants In Williamsport: Not Enough Wastewater Volume To Keep Plants Open [PaEN]

-- Eureka Resources Extracted 97% Pure Lithium Carbonate Used In Making Lithium-ion Batteries From Oil & Gas Wastewater [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards: