PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP: EQT Production Co. Challenges Records Requests In Ongoing Investigation Of The 2020-21 Release Of 940,000 Gallons Of Shale Gas Wastewater In North Bethlehem Twp., Washington County And Similar Failures At At Least 6 Other EQT Well Pads

On July 3, 2024, the Department of Environmental Protection issued an order to EQT Production Company in its most recent attempt to get the company to produce records as part of the agency’s ongoing investigation into the release of up to an estimated 940,000 gallons of wastewater at the Brova shale gas well pad in North Bethlehem Township, Washington County and similar failures at at least six other EQT well pads.

EQT has repeatedly challenged DEP’s authority to request information and records during this investigation, including this Order and a previous subpoena, over incidents that began in December 2021.

A copy of the Order was obtained through a Right To Know Act request by PA Environment Digest.

Initial Wastewater Release

On December 4, 2021, EQT notified DEP a buried 3-inch metal pipe known as a “dump line” between equipment that separated natural gas from wastewater and wastewater storage tanks on the Brova pad had “washed out” and released “more than 5 gallons” of wastewater into the ground, according to DEP’s December 8, 2021 inspection report.

An investigation later found the dump line was corroded by the wastewater and solids in the liquid leading to its failure.

DEP said EQT estimated between 806,000 and 940,000 gallons of wastewater was released over a one year period from December 2020 and December 2021.

Because the dump line was buried and lacked secondary containment and monitoring, the leak continued unnoticed and led to the contamination of groundwater and impacts to “multiple water supplies” near the Brova well pad.

DEP’s records show at least three water wells were determined by DEP to be impacted: 6.9.22 - North Bethlehem Twp. EQT; 6.21.22 - North Bethlehem Twp. EQT; and 6.21.22 - North Bethlehem Twp. EQT.

DEP said in 2022 EQT resized its equipment and installed a new dump line at the Brova well pad, but without the secondary containment required by DEP’s 2016 Oil and Gas Regulations, according to the Order.

DEP issued a notice of violation for this infraction on June 27, 2023.

EQT disputed the violation in a July 20, 2023 letter saying it does not believe the secondary containment requirements applied to the dump line and requiring it would be “excessively unreasonable and burdensome.” [DEP Order page 14]

Wastewater problems are continuing at the Brova well pad.

An April 21, 2025 DEP inspection report found wastewater seeps and stressed vegetation around the seeps and contamination in a pond, stream and culverts near the well pad. [DEP Inspection Report 4.21.25]

Other Dump Line Failures

DEP’s July 3 Order said its investigation showed the dump line failure at Brova was “not a unique incident” at EQT shale gas well pads that used single-walled dump lines.

DEP said these well pads also experienced dump line failures--

Greene County

-- Center Township: Green Hill and Carpenter

Washington County

-- Carroll Township: Harold Haywood

-- Fallowfield Township: Wolverine

-- North Bethlehem Township: Iron Man (DEP Inspection Report 7.18.23)

-- Somerset Township: Rumpelstiltskin (DEP Inspection Report 7.11.23)

Use DEP’s Oil and Gas Mapping Tool to find the locations of these shale gas well pads.

Efforts To Obtain Records From EQT

On September 9, 2023, DEP issued a subpoena to EQT requesting records on EQT shale gas well sites that had similar dump line installations, according to DEP’s Order [page 17].

On October 25, 2023, EQT responded to the subpoena, DEP said, by “producing spreadsheets and a limited number of other documents that notably lack documents that had been requested,” according to the DEP Order [page 4].

DEP sent a letter to EQT on November 27, 2023 explaining the deficiencies in the response and EQT replied on December 18, 2023 “contesting the Department’s power to seek records.”

“EQT asserted that, to the extent it needed to produce records, it need only produce records for which there is a “regulatory requirement” to be created or maintained.”

EQT also said reviewing hard copy records in response to the subpoena would be “unduly burdensome and disproportionate.”

July 3, 2024 Order

DEP explained the purpose of its July 3, 2024 Order as-- “Rather than pursuing enforcement of the 2023 Subpoena at this time [in court], the Department is issuing this Order in furtherance of the Department’s investigation.”

DEP explained “although EQT has acknowledged that it has records pertinent to the Department’s investigation, it has refused to provide them to the Department because it would be “burdensome” to look through “hard copy”documents that “have not been fully integrated into EQT’s systems.””

The Order, like the earlier subpoena, requires EQT to--

-- Production Of Records: EQT shall produce all books, records, maps, papers, documents, and other writings in EQT’s possession, custody, or control, including, but not limited to, inspection reports, notes, photographs, correspondence, e-mails, voicemails, phone-texts, and any writings or electronically recorded documentation of any kind related to the dump lines on EQT’s Pennsylvania well sites [more specifics in the Order [page 6-7]]

-- Install Secondary Containment: EQT shall install secondary containment for the New Dump Line sufficient to meet the requirements of the Oil and Gas Regulations.

EQT Appeals Order

On August 2, 2024, EQT Production appealed DEP’s July 3, 2024 Order to the Environmental Hearing Board. EHB Docket# 202417

The appeal is still pending and EQT and DEP have been involved in settlement talks.

A status report is to be submitted to the Board on or before October 17, 2025.

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.]

(Photos: Row 1- Initial report of release “more than 5 gallons” on Brova well pad that turned into 940,000 gallons; Corroded wastewater pipes; Wastewater pipe network laid out during investigation; Row 2- One of several monitoring wells drilled around the Brova site; Brova well pad impacts map; Continuing wastewater seep with distressed vegetation at Brova well pad (4.16.25).)

Resource Links - EQT

-- Freeport Township Declares Disaster Emergency After Residents Impacted By A Gas Related Water Contamination Event Have Been Without Permanent Water Supplies For 3 Years—We’re Not Blaming Anybody, We Just Want Good, Clean Drinking Water [PaEN]

-- Springhill Township Becomes 2nd Township To Declare Disaster Emergency After Residents Were Impacted By A Gas Related Water Contamination Event In Greene County [PaEN]

-- Independent Research Study By Pitt, Duquesne Ties Water Well Contamination To Shale Gas Drilling In 2 Greene County Townships That Declared Water Disaster Emergencies [PaEN]

-- WESA: New Freeport, Greene County Residents File Lawsuit Against EQT Gas Drilling Company Over Contaminated Water Supplies [PaEN]

-- Federal Court Denies Request For Injunction In Lawsuit By New Freeport Residents Against EQT Gas Drilling Company Over Contaminated Water Supplies in Greene County [PaEN]

-- DEP- EQT Settlement Agreement Allows Fracking To Resume From 2 Shale Gas Well Pads In Area Impacted By Frack-Out In New Freeport, Greene County; Does Not Address Water Supply Issues Of Residents [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]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: EQT's Mountain Valley Pipeline Urges WV Appeals Court To Revive Civil Lawsuit Against Pipeline Protesters [Pipeline Finished In June 2024] [PaEN]

-- Williamsport Sun: EQT Pleads No Contest To Criminal Charges Related To Leaking Wastewater Impoundment In Tioga County [PDF of Article]

-- Attorney General Sunday Files Criminal Charges Against Equitrans For 2022 Leak Of 1.1 Billion Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas From Its Rager Mountain Gas Storage Field In Cambria County [PaEN] [EQT Bought Equitrans in 2024]

-- PA Supreme Court Rules $4.5 Million DEP Penalty Against EQT Drilling Not Supported By Clean Streams Law [PaEN]