An investigation found that a gathering pipeline had failed and released an unknown quantity of crude oil leaving a visible trail of contamination of about 690 feet-- nearly the length of two football fields.
The crude oil traveled down a road ditch for about 500 feet, then through a culvert crossing under the road traveling another 190 feet before being stopped in a depression in the ditch.
Luckily, the crude oil was stopped before reaching nearby Chappel Fork Creek.
Remediation work with a mini-excavator was underway during the inspection making its way down the path of the crude oil removing contaminated soil and debris.
DEP requested documentation that the contaminated soil was disposed of at an approved facility.
DEP will conduct more inspections to document ongoing cleanup.
DEP issued violations related to the crude oil release and requested a response from the owner by December 7. DEP inspection report.
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: Partially remediate site of crude oil gathering line failure from well (in upper left); Crude oil traveled down a ditch; Crude oil was stopped by a depression in the ditch, contains absorbent pads placed by owners.)
[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 - Nov. 15 to 21: Fails To Restore Shale Gas Well Pad For 1,418 Days; Fails To Clean Up Spills At 2 Conventional Wells For 1,038 Days; Owner Abandons 35 Conventional Wells [PaEN]
-- DEP: Crude Oil Released From Failed Conventional Oil Well Gathering Line Travels Nearly Length Of 2 Football Fields In Hamilton Twp., McKean County [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 22 [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Permit For 8 Million Gallon EQT Midstream Oil & Gas Wastewater Storage Facility In Jackson Twp., Greene County [PaEN]
-- DEP Accepting Comments On Renewal Of Phase II Acid Rain Air Quality Permit For The 750 MW Natural Gas Marcus Hook Energy Power Plant, Delaware County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Comments Now Being Accepted For Renewal Of Title V Air Quality Permit For Hunterstown Power, LLC Natural Gas Power Plant In Adams County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Renewal Of Title V Air Quality Permit For The Energy Center Fuel Oil/Natural Gas Power Plant Serving Downtown Harrisburg Heating District, Dauphin County [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 55 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 22 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- 500 Feet Isn’t Enough - House Hearing I: Shale Gas Industry Says Setbacks Won’t Protect Residents, Public Health, Environment From Shale Gas Operations, Only ‘Rigorous Oversight’ Will; Standards Have Not Changed In 9 Years [PaEN]
-- 500 Feet Isn't Enough- House Hearing II: As A Township Supervisor We Have An Obligation To Protect The Health, Safety And Welfare Of Our Township Residents From Shale Gas Development [PaEN]
-- 500 Feet Isn't Enough - House Hearing III: What It’s Really Like Living Next To A Shale Gas Well Pad - Nosebleeds, Headaches, Nausea, Air Pollution, Vibrating House, Sleepless Nights, Anxiety, Truck Traffic [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues Air Permit For Largest Natural Gas Power Plant In US To Feed Proposed 3,200 Acre Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus In Indiana County [PaEN]
-- Montour County Planning Commission Recommends Against Talen Energy Request To Rezone 870 Acres For A Natural Gas Power Plant Expansion To Feed A.I. Data Centers [PaEN]
-- PUC Invites Comments On Proposed Model Tariff To Balance A.I. Data Center Growth And Ratepayer Protection [PaEN]
-- PUC: Natural Gas Utility Winter Reliability Reports Forecast Slightly Higher Usage, Costs [PaEN]
-- Dept. Of Human Services Begins Accepting Applications For Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Dec. 3, After Federal Shutdown Delay [PaEN]
-- PUC Directs Staff To Develop Rule On Winter Terminations, Payment Arrangements, Other Consumer Protections
-- North American Electric Reliability Corp: Electric Grid At Elevated Risk Of Insufficient Energy Supplies During Extreme Weather Due To Rising A.I. Data Center Demands, 'Precarious' Natural Gas Supplies [PaEN]
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - November 24 [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Inquirer: How An Energy Transfer/Sunoco Petroleum Products Pipeline Leak Disrupted A Quiet Bucks County Neighborhood: ‘Never Drink The Water’ [PDF of Article]
-- The Center Square: Lawsuits Target Northeast Supply Enhancement Natural Gas Pipeline From PA To NY Backed By President
-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Bellwether District- Site Of Former Philadelphia Refinery-- Could Soon Announce Its First Tenants
-- WITF/LancasterOnline: Mild Forecast For PA Winter Heating Bills In Peril As Natural Gas Prices Surge
-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: UGI Gas Company Contributes $500,000 For Customers Struggling To Pay Heating Bills
-- Post-Gazette/AP: New Analysis Shows More US Consumers Are Falling Behind On Their Utility Bills
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: PUC Proposes Special Treatment For A.I. Data Center Power Connections To Contain The Cost Burden On Existing Ratepayers [PDF of Article]
-- York Daily Record: Where Does York County Rank In Electricity Production Across PA & US (Really High) [Data Center Series] [PDF of Article]
-- Utility Dive: PJM Members Fail To Agree On A.I. Data Center Interconnection Rules; Board May Develop A Proposal, But Timing Unclear
-- The Center Square: Consensus For Soaring A.I. Data Center Power Demands Still Elusive Among PJM Members
-- The Center Square: ‘Ghost’ A.I. Data Center Projects Haunt PJM Power Grid Planners, Raising Energy Costs
-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp: Winter Peak Demand Is Rising Faster Than Resource Additions
-- WHYY: PJM Electrical Grid To Decide Who Pays Bill For Massive A.I. Data Centers
-- PA Capital-Star: A.I. Data Center Growth Drives Communities In PA, Other States To Fight For More Say
-- Reuters: US A.I. Data Center Demand Raising Power Risks This Winter, NERC Says
-- Bloomberg: US Faces Winter Blackout Risks From A.I. Data Centers’ Power Needs, NERC Says
-- WFMZ: Montour County Planning Commission Votes Against Talen Energy Rezoning Request
-- York Daily Record: Where Does York County Rank In Electricity Production Across PA & US (Really High) [Data Center Series] [PDF of Article]
-- Utility Dive: FERC OKs NRG’s 19 GW Purchase Of LS Power Gas-Fired [5 In PA], Demand Response Assets; BP Wind Energy Sale Also Approved [PA Wind Farm]
-- US Dept. Of Energy Closes On $1 Billion Taxpayer Funded Loan To Constellation Energy To Finance Restart Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant To Power Microsoft A.I. Data Centers [Company Originally Claimed No Taxpayer Money Would Be Used To Restart The Plant]
-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: President’s Energy Dept. Approves $1 Billion Loan For Three Mile Island Nuclear Reactor Restart [Federal Legislation Makes Taxpayer Funding Available]
-- AP: US DOE Loans $1 Billion To Help Finance Restart Of Three Mile Island Nuclear Reactor [Company Originally Claimed No Taxpayer Money Would Be Used To Restart The Plant]
[Posted: November 22, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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