DEP: EQM Gathering Has 6th ‘Inadvertent’ Release During Pipeline Construction In Nottingham Twp., Washington County

On November 4, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection inspected the EQM Gathering OPCO LLC [EQT]  NINFS004 Pipeline construction project in Nottingham Township, Washington County in response to a November 1 notification of “bubbling and sediment return within a stream channel.”

The “inadvertent return” happened as drilling was occurring for a shale gas water pipeline under a road, railroad track, two streams and Froman Run.  

This is at least the 6th spill incident reported on this project. 

Other drilling spills, contamination along this same pipeline were reported in October, in August and in July. 

A hole a foot in diameter was found to be the source of the bubbling and sediment discharge into a small stream.  

No additives were being used in drilling, but bentonite will be used to seal the bore once complete. 

A pump-around was installed in the stream to avoid the hole. 

No violations issued by DEP for this incident.  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.

[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. 1 to 7 - Failed To Plug Shale Gas Well For 1,521 Days; 20,000 Gallon Spill Into Mine Void; 99% Of Conventional Well Owners Fail To Comply With Methane Rule  [PaEN] 

     -- DEP:  More Than 99% Of Conventional Oil & Gas Facility Owners Failed To Comply With VOC/Methane Reduction Regulations Covering 64,660 Wells; Had 193 Days To File  [PaEN]

     -- DEP: Spills, Releases Continue At Seneca Resources Taft Shale Gas Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County For 373 Days And Counting  [PaEN]  

     -- DEP: MarkWest Liberty Midstream Pipeline Construction Results In 20,000 Gallon Spill Into Coal Mine Voids Under Washington County, For The 3rd Time  [PaEN]   

     -- DEP: EQM Gathering Has 6th ‘Inadvertent’ Release During Pipeline Construction In Nottingham Twp., Washington County  [PaEN] 

     -- DEP:  LPR Energy LLC Fails To Plug Abandoned Shale Gas Well For 1,521 Days And Counting In Fayette County [PaEN] 

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 8 [PaEN] 

     -- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For MarkWest Liberty Midstream 20-Inch Natural Gas Gathering Pipeline In Mount Pleasant & Cecil Townships, Washington County [PaEN] 

     -- DEP Invites Comments On Air Quality Permit For 15 Natural Gas Generators To Power 15 Iron City A.I. Computing Centers In Karthaus Twp., Clearfield County   [PaEN]   

     -- DEP Invites Comments On Renewal Of Title V Air Quality Permit For United Refinery In City Of Warren, Warren County  [PaEN] 

     -- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Meets Dec. 4 On 2026 Fee Schedule, Water Withdrawal Requests, Including 3 Related To Shale Gas Development  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 71 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 8 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week: 

-- House Environmental Committee Puts Spotlight On Proposed Penn America LNG Gas Export Facility In Chester, Delaware County  [PaEN]  

-- Nov. 12 Joint Meeting Of DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council, Environmental Justice Advisory Board To Hear EJ Concerns With A.I. Data Centers, Update On DEP’s EJ Initiatives, Cumulative Impacts Of Facilities  [PaEN]

-- PUC Approves Proposed Model Tariff For Public Review To Balance A.I. Data Center Growth And Ratepayer Protection  [PaEN]

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - November 10  [PaEN] 

-- PJM Winter Power Outlook: Adequate Power Supplies Available To Serve Growing Demand Under Expected Conditions; 1 GigaWatt Of Mostly Solar Power Capacity Added Since Last Winter  [PaEN] 

-- Guest Essay: Don’t Trade Away Pennsylvania's Climate Regulations As Part Of State Budget Deal  [Fossil Fuel Power Plants Power Wave Of Data Center Proposals]  -  By Rep. Greg Vitali, Majority Chair, House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee  [PaEN] 

-- Moms Clean Air Force PA Urge Gov. Shapiro To Protect The RGGI Program Regulating Carbon Pollution From Power Plants To Cut Climate Pollution  [PaEN]   

-- PEC Podcast: Advanced Electric Transmission Technology - More Capacity, More Power Out Of Our Existing Grid At A Fraction Of The Cost  [PaEN] 

-- Water At Risk: A.I. Data Centers Bait And Switch? - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County [PaEN] 

-- PUC: Utilities Will Not Terminate LIHEAP-Eligible Heating Customers During Federal Shutdown; Customers Need To Call Utilities Now To Stay Connected This Winter  [PaEN]  

NewsClips:

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: CNX Resources Sues Nonprofit News Outlet For Defamation Over Shale Gas Fracking Article

-- Delaware Currents: Speakers Decry LNG Gas Export Plant Proposal On Delaware River In Chester, Delaware County: ‘Our Community Says No’

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Chester Mayor, Environmentalists Object To LNG Gas Export Terminal Proposal In Delaware County: ‘We’ve Moved On’

-- Rep. Vitali: PA House Environmental Committee Examines Impacts Of Proposed LNG Gas Export Terminal In Southeast PA

-- Tribune-Democrat: Attorney General: Shale Gas Driller Seneca Resources Charged With Environmental Crimes For Polluted Water Spills In 8 Counties  [PDF of Article]

-- PennLive - John Beauge: Seneca Resources Natural Gas Driller Charged With Environmental Crimes In 8 PA Counties

-- Marcellus Drilling News: PA Attorney General Goes Wild, Charges Seneca Resources Natural Gas Driller With 100 Criminal Violations [PDF of Article]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Coterra Energy NE PA Shale Gas Well Gets Frisky, Sprays Mist During Fracking [PDF of Article]

-- Utility Dive: What The Last Natural Gas Boom (And Bust) Says About Today’s Rush To Build; New Gas Generation Remains A Risky Investment, Analysts Say 

-- Reuters: Exxon, QatarEnergy Threaten European Union - Will Stop Selling Natural Gas To Them If The EU Doesn’t Loosen Climate Law 

-- Reuters: US LNG Gas Producers Ink Near Record Contract Volumes, Even As Fees Climb, Rising Costs

-- Spotlight PA: Millions At Risk Of Power Shut Off Because Of Federal LIHEAP Funding Delays During Federal Shutdown [PA Included]

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: Environmental Groups Rally In Fear Harrisburg Budget Deal Will Sink RGGI Greenhouse Gas Reduction Initiative  [RGGI Was Never Implemented]

-- PA Capital-Star: Environmentalists Urge Shapiro, Lawmakers Not To End RGGI Climate Initiative In Budget Agreement [RGGI Was Never Implemented]

-- TribLive: Surge In A.I. Data Centers Sparks Concern Over Water Demands

-- Wall Street Journal: What Happened When Small-Town America Became A.I. Data Center, USA [PDF of Article] 

-- Utility Dive: Exelon’s A.I. Data Center Load Forecast Grows To 18 GW; Market Monitor Continues Call For Review Of PECO - Amazon Data Center Agreement Impact On Ratepayers 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Pittsburgh Energy Storage Maker EOS Defies Skeptics, Sees Large Market For A.I. Data Center Projects

[Posted: November 8, 2025]  PA Environment Digest