Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between October 18 to 24--
Here for violations issued. Click Here for inspection entries.
[Note: There were many more violations issued by DEP than PA Environment Digest can highlight here.]
Enforcement Actions Taken Last Week
So far this year, DEP took these actions as of October 17--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 19 conventional, 8 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 4,774 conventional and 1,061 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2025: 351 conventional and 133 unconventional (orders, agreements)
-- Inspections Last Week: 371 conventional and 338 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 16,095 conventional and 20,785 unconventional
14,280 Gallon Shale Gas Wastewater Spill
On October 3, 2025, EQT Production Co. notified DEP of a wastewater spill at the Secretariat shale gas well pad in Gilmore Township, Greene County.
On October 10, DEP inspected the site and EQT’s contractor Moody Associations reported they had so far collected 14,280 gallons of contaminated wastewater from the spill site and excavated enough contaminated soil to fill over 21 roll-off containers. Read more here.
Pipeline Construction Spill Travels Nearly 2 Football Fields
On October 17, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection was notified by EQM Gathering OPCO LLC (EQT) of a contaminated water spill at the NINFS004 Pipeline construction site for two pipelines-- natural gas and water-- in Nottingham Township, Washington County.
During its October 20 inspection, DEP found water contaminated with bentonite and sediment being pumped out of a pipeline drilling entrance pit was discharged from a storage tank at the Mingo shale gas well pad as a result of a “miscommunication.”
The discharge collapsed the secondary contaminment around the tanks and traveled some 700 feet off the pipeline permit area into a drainage channel. Read more here.
2nd Major Spill Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater By Well Owner
On October 2, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection inspected the Lower Reno 1 conventional oil and gas well wastewater tank battery owned by Petro Erie Inc. in Sugarcreek Borough, Venango County in response to a complaint of a wastewater spill.
National Fuel Gas reported a spill of an estimated 300 gallons of conventional wastewater was discharged onto the right-of-way of a pipeline they were constructing adjacent to the storage tanks. Read more here.
DEP said Petro Erie, Inc. was also responsible for a conventional well wastewater spill on July 20, 2023 that contaminated a spring serving as a water supply for the Venango Water Company serving the Village of Reno in Sugarcreek Borough, Venango County. Read more here.
Day 155 - Shale Gas Well Pad Wastewater Spill Cleanup Continues
On October 15, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection did a follow-up inspection of the Seneca Resources Vandergrift shale gas well pad and found multiple areas where contaminated water was still flowing from wells and the well pad fill slop in Charleston Township, Tioga County.
The spill was discovered during a complaint inspection on May 13, 2025.
While significant cleanup efforts have been undertaken, this inspection found work crews installing permanent, eight foot deep drainage trenches around the shale gas well cellars to collect contaminated wastewater from the wells for monitoring and disposal. Read more here.
3 Abandoned Conventional Wells
Washington Energy Co. LLC [280 Days]
October 16, 2025 inspection of the EVA Wilkinson Et Al 2 conventional well in Peters Township, Washington County found the owner failed to comply with a DEP Order to plug the well. The original abandonment violation issued January 9, 2025. Response requested by Nov. 1. DEP inspection report. Washington Energy holds 118 permits.
Mervin Troyer [91 Days]
October 10, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Daniel Troyer EtUX 1581 and Mervin & Gary Troyer Weaver 1 conventional wells in Le Boeuf and Union Townships, Erie County found the wells continued to be abandoned and not plugged. The owner also failed to cleanup spills and submit production, waste generation and well integrity reports. The owner did nothing to respond to the original violations issued July 11, 2025. Violations continued. No response requested of owner. Troyer holds 4 permits.
519 Abandoned Conventional Well Violations In 2025
So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 519 violations to 111 conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.
In 2024, DEP issued 860 new or continued violations to conventional oil and gas well owners for abandoning and not plugging their wells.
The violations were issued to these conventional owners in 2025: 3D Resources LLC ; All American Energy Inc.; Amer Natural Resources LLC; WB Anderson; Apex Energy (PA), LLC; Apollo Resources LLC; ARG Resources Inc.; Baird Oil Co.; Carol A. Morrison Baker; Baron Crest Energy Co.; Bialy Gas Production LLC; Blackrock Enterprises LLC; Darrel B. Blauser; JJ Bucher Producing Corp; Chris E. Burke; Consolidated Coal Co.; Dorothy Craft; Edward E. & Frederick J. Craig; Edward E. Craig; Crude A Co - Randy L. Larkin; Dannic Energy Corp.; Harold H. Davis; Lewis E. Davis; Paul H. Deeter; Delong Oil Inc.; Developed Resources, Inc.; Randy A. Dietterich; Diversified Production LLC; East Resources Inc.; Eastern Gas Trans & Storage Inc.; Eastern Natural Resources LLC; Elder Oil & Gas Co; Equitrans LP; EQT Production Co.; Exotic Oil & Gas LLC; Ex-Treme Oil And Gas LLC; Greenway Energy LLC; H & S Gas & Oil; Michael Harju; Donald S. Kelly; Harry L. King; Thomas A. Hodge; Howard Drilling Inc.; Robert L. Hunter; Iron Pennsylvania Land LLC; Donald Jeannerett; JPS Lawncare & Landscaping; Keystone Crude LLC; Raymond J. Kaufman; Kiski Valley Gas Co.; Claudia A. & John P. Lampman; Raymond D. Langer; Leechburg Gas Co.; Manufacturers Light & Heat Co; Calvin & Julia McCutcheon; Marco Drilling Inc.; David H. Melat Co; Mid East Oil Co.; MTN Energy; MTN V Oil & Gas Inc.; Charles E. Myers; Myers Gas; James J. & Wendelin H. Neff; Charles F. & Rita M. Niederriter; Niche Energy LLC; Northwestern Well SVC Inc.; Nucomer Energy LLC; Ohio Kentucky Oil Corp. ; Oil & Gas MGMT Co. LLC; Old MTN Gas Co. Inc.; OneXXX Prod & Exploration Corp.; Ows Acquisition Co. LLC; PA Mineral SVCS LLC; Robert Lee Pennington; PBS Coals Inc; Raymond J. Patten; Pecora Enterprises; Pencan Explorations Inc.; Penta Oil Corp.; Robert F. Phipps; Pillar Energy PA, LLC; Pin Oak Energy Partners, LLC; The Production Co. LLC; Prosperity Oil Co. Inc.; Red Lion Gas Coop Assn; Reel Resources, Inc; Riyan Farm & Gas LLC; Raymond Sawyer; Rocksauce OPR LLC; Fred C. Scheel; SK Opr Inc.; Larry A. Shaffer Jr.; FM Sloan Inc.; Lyle D. Smith; Andrew F. Suchko; S R Star O&G LLC ; Steele Molar Holdings LLC; Stockman LLC; Stonehaven Energy MGT Co. LLC; Stone Ridge Energy LLC; Andrew F. Suchko; Griffin Summit Oil Company; Thomas Thurma Jean; TI Brook Inc.; Timberline Energy, Inc.; Mervin Troyer; Valley Green Golf & Country Club, Inc.; Vessels Coal Gas Inc.; Walker Oil Prod Inc.; Washington Energy Co LLC; Ronald Wise; Mary A. Woodring; Woodward Inc.
1 Abandoned Shale Gas Well
LPR Energy LLC
October 2, 2025 inspection of the Humberston Unit 1H shale gas well in Henry Clay Township, Fayette County to conduct a compliance evaluation. The owner has failed to comply with an August 31, 2021 consent order to plug this well and another well in Somerset County by the end of 2024. The wells were drilled in 2011. Read more here. The compliance inspection found methane leaking out of the soil around the well at significant levels. Violations continued. No requests made of well owner. DEP inspection report. LPR Energy holds 42 permits.
66 Abandoned Shale Gas Well Violations In 2025
Abandoned Shale Gas Wells: So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 65 violations to 21 shale gas drilling companies for abandoning and not plugging their wells-- [Anegada Energy LLC; Apex Energy (PA) LLC; Big Dog Energy LLC; Big Dog Energy LLC; Big Dog Energy LLC; Blackhill Energy LLC; CNX Gas Co. LLC; Diversified Prod LLC; Diversified Production LLC; Diversified Production LLC; EQT ARO LLC; EQT Chap LLC; EQT Chap LLC; EQT Production Co.; EQT Production Co.; EQT Production Co.; Frontier Natural Resources; Hilcorp Energy Co.; Hilcorp Energy Co.; LPR Energy LLC; LPR Energy LLC; LPR Energy LLC; LPR Energy LLC; LPR Energy LLC; Rice Drilling B LLC [EQT]; MTN V Oil & Gas Inc.; Rice Drilling B LLC [EQT]; Roulette Oil & Gas LLC; STL Resources LLC; Taft Operating LLC].
Shale Gas Spills/Releases
INR OPR LLC
October 20, 2025 inspection of the Jost Van Dyke shale gas well pad in Young Township, Indiana County in response to an October 17 notification of a spill found a hose fitting failed while cleaning a de-sander unit and released about 420 gallons of fluid into secondary containment and then onto the well pad. The owner worked to remediate the area and filled 21 roll-off waste containers with contaminated material from the pad. Violations issued. Response requested by November 4. DEP inspection report. INR OPR holds 33 permits.
Conventional Well Spills/Releases
John D. Branch
October 21, 2025 inspection of the West End Proj 11 conventional oil tank farm in City of Warren, Warren County as a result of a notification by the owner of a spill found about 882 gallons of crude oil had discharged from one of the tanks from a tank battery on the site. The precise time of the release is not known. The owner suspects a hole in one of the tanks. The oil stayed inside the containment dike and crews were able to use a vac truck to remove the spilled oil. Remediation was ongoing during inspection Cleanup measures will be evaluated during a future inspection. Violations issued and immediately closed. DEP inspection report. Branch holds 231 permits
On September 29, Branch was issued a violation for watering newly seeded grass with conventional oil and gas wastewater. Read more here.
On September 3, Branch was issued a violation for facility to obtain all necessary local/municipal approvals prior to drilling a conventional well. Read more here.
On April 18, 2024 Branch was issued violations related to a fire at a conventional well site. Read more here.
2025 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups
So far in 2025, DEP received or acted on 149 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups.
Discharging 105,000 Gallons Of Water Down A Shale Gas Well Pad Slope
Expand OPER LLC
September 29, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Roundwood shale gas well pad in Braintrim Township, Wyoming County found an unapproved discharge of over 105,000 gallons of water from a storage structure down the slope of the well pad. The person pumping the water said his instructions were to pump the storage structure dry. A field test of the water did not detect any elevated readings. A representative of the owner said the water was tested before being pumped over the side of the pad. The representative also said he “would have rather seen it discharged towards and basin or rock spreader.” DEP advised the owner “should the need for a discharge arise in the future, it should be documented in a plan that has been submitted to the Department for review and approved before scheduling the discharge.” No violations were issued for the discharge. DEP inspection report.
Failure To Address Pipeline Route Slope Failure
Repsol Oil & Gas USA LLC [1,440 Days]
October 20, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Thorne to Hillis Riser Pipeline route in Apolacon Township, Susquehanna County found the owner failed to permanently address slope failure and other erosion and sedimentation violations since the original violations were issued on November 10, 2021. DEP inspected the site every year since then with no action on correcting the violations. In response to a DEP contact, the owner reported they had just awarded a contract to do the work in the summer of 2026. Violations continued. DEP inspection report.
Failure Of E&S Controls At Shale Gas Well Pad
EQT Production Co.
October 14, 2025 inspection of the huge More Cowbell shale gas well pad construction site in Perry Twp., Greene County in response to a notification October 9 by the owner found multiple failures of E&S controls after a rain event. A Sept. 26 inspection warned EQT of multiple E&S control problems with violations issued. Repairs were being made, no violations issued or continued during Oct. 14 inspection. DEP inspection report.
Failure To Submit Shale Gas Production/Waste Reports
John E. McCool
DEP issued a notice of violation on October 17, 2025 for failure to submit monthly production, waste generation/disposal report for August 2025 for one or more shale gas wells in Brokenstraw Township, Warren County. Response requested by Oct. 27.
Medina Res Dev Co LLC
DEP issued a notice of violation on October 17, 2025 for failure to submit monthly production, waste generation/disposal report for August 2025 for one or more shale gas wells in Waterford Township, Erie County. Response requested by Oct. 27.
Nucomer Energy LLC
DEP issued a notice of violation on October 17, 2025 for failure to submit monthly production, waste generation/disposal report for August 2025 for one or more shale gas wells in Hickory Township, Forest County. Response requested by Oct. 27.
Failure To Submit Conventional Production, Waste, Well Integrity Reports
Mifflin Energy Resources LLC
DEP issued a notice of violation on October 14, 2025 for failure to submit annual production, waste generation/disposal and well integrity reports for 2023 and 2024 for one or more conventional oil and gas wells in Greene County. Response requested by Nov. 13. Mifflin holds 33 permits.
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-- LPR Energy LLC abandoned shale gas well; Day 155 of Seneca Resources shale gas wastewater cleanup; 14,280 gallon shale gas wastewater spill at EQT Production Co. well pad; Row 2-- EQM Gathering OPCO LLC (EQT) pipeline drilling wastewater spill; INR OPR LLC shale gas well pad spill cleanup; Petro Erie, Inc. conventional wastewater spill.)
[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 - Oct. 18 to 24: 14,280 Gallon Shale Gas Wastewater Spill; 2nd Major Spill By Conventional Well Owner; Failure To Address Pipeline Slope Failure For 1,440 Days [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - October 25 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 81 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In October 25 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- DEP: 14,280 Gallon Shale Gas Wastewater Spill At EQT Production’s Secretariat Well Pad In Gilmore Twp., Greene County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Day 155 - Contaminated Water Still Flowing From Seneca Resources Vandergrift Shale Gas Wells, Well Pad; Cleanup Continues In Charleston Twp., Tioga County [PaEN]
-- DEP Extends Temporary Air Quality Permits For Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County; No Schedule Yet For Public Review Of Full Title V Air Quality Permit Accepted July 2024 [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues Air Quality Permit For 248 MW Wyalusing Energy Center Natural Gas Power Plant To Serve The Klondike Data Center Project In Bradford County [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold Dec. 17 Hearing On An Air Quality Permit For The PEI Power LLC Natural Gas Power Plant In Lackawanna County [PaEN]
-- Citizens Interested In Submitting Comments To DEP On Tenaska Natural Gas Power Plant’s First Title V Air Quality Permit Invited To Oct. 29 Public Meeting In West Newton, Westmoreland County [PaEN]
-- Protect PT Hosts Nov. 4 & Nov. 11 Online Living Near Shale Gas Development Community Workshops [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: Reliance On Natural Gas For Power Generation Will Worsen Energy Affordability Crisis - By Cassady Craighill, GridLab
-- PennFuture: PA Senate Republicans’ ‘All Of The Above Energy’ Statements Focused On Natural Gas
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: EQT Gas Driller Secures Option To 400-Acre Former Steel Plant Site Along Monongahela River In Allenport, Stockdale, Dunlevy Boroughs, Washington County, Mum On Development Plans [PDF of Article]
-- TribLive: Natural Gas Producer EQT Corp. Posts $407 Million Profit: ‘Firing On All Cylinders’
-- Reuters: EQT Production Beats Quarterly Profit Estimates On Strong, Higher Natural Gas Prices
-- Reuters Guest Essay: US LNG Gas Exporters And Households On Natural Gas Already Saddled With Record-High Energy Bills On Collision Course [PDF of Article]
-- Broad +Liberty Guest Essay: Pennsylvania’s Energy Future Is Bright And Bipartisan, Republicans, Democrats Deserve Credit For Supporting ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ - By Former Gov. Mark Schweiker [Natural Gas]
-- Reuters: EU Plans Changes To LNG Gas Sustainability Law As US, Qatar Increase Pressure
-- Financial Times: Fallout From The A.I.-Fuelled Dash For Natural Gas-Fired Power Plants - Supply Crunch In Giant Turbines Taking Years For Delivery
-- Bloomberg: Halliburton Is Branching Into A.I. Data Center Power Supplies As Fracking Demand Stagnates
[Posted: October 25, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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