Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between November 15 to 21--
Click 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 November 14--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 14 conventional, 3 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 5,294 conventional and 1,139 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2025: 388 conventional and 147 unconventional (orders, agreements)
-- Inspections Last Week: 192 conventional and 306 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 17,962 conventional and 22,749 unconventional
Rocksauce Operating: 35 Conventional Abandoned Wells, 83 Wells With No Well Integrity Reports
On November 19, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection issued a notice of violation to Rocksauce Operating LLC for abandoning and not plugging and not submitting well integrity reports for a total of 83 conventional wells in Allegheny and Washington counties.
Violations were issued for abandoning and not plugging 35 conventional wells. Violations were also issued for failing to submit well integrity reports for 83 wells. Rocksauce owns a total of 87 conventional wells in the two counties. Read more here.
Conventional Crude Oil Pipeline Spills Travels Nearly 2 Football Fields
On November 18, 2025, DEP did an inspection of the Backwards L 3 conventional oil well in response to a notification by Bull Run Resources LLC and found evidence of a significant spill of crude oil in Hamilton Township, McKean County.
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. Read more here.
7 Abandoned Conventional Well Violations
Amer Natural Resources LLC [2,167 Days]
November 17, 2025 compliance evaluation of the John Straka Unit 2 conventional gas well in Glenfield Borough, Allegheny County found the well continued to be abandoned and not plugged and leaking gas. DEP originally issued an order to plug the well on December 12, 2019 and the owner failed to comply with the order. A second order was issued on March 28, 2025 to plug the well and modified on October 14, 2025 to set a November 13, 2025 deadline to plug the well. The well was not plugged. Violation continued for failure to comply with the order. No request made of owner. DEP inspection report. Amer Natural Resources holds 49 permits.
Hyde Park Foundry & Mach Co [1,286 Days]
November 5, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Lots 255,256,257,358 2 conventional well in Hyde Park Borough, Westmoreland County found the well still abandoned and not plugged. Owner failed to submit production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Original violations issued for abandonment April 29, 2022. Violations continued. Response requested by November 25. DEP inspection report. Hyde Park Foundry holds 4 permits.
K Petroleum Inc. [913 Days]
November 3, 2025 follow-up inspection of the M.E. Ludwick 2 conventional gas well in Washington Township, Westmoreland County found the well still abandoned and not plugged. Original violation for abandonment issued on May 5, 2023. Owner reported zero production since 2019. Owner has not addressed any of the violations dating back to 2023. Violations continued. Response requested by December 2. DEP inspection report. K Petroleum holds 154 permits.
Five Star Investment Group Inc. [873 Days]
November 4, 2025 inspection of the Jos McCutcheon 1 conventional well in Washington Township, Westmoreland County found the well was still abandoned and not plugged. Failed to meet minimum requirements for inspections. Owner failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Original violations issued June 15, 2023. Violations continued. Response requested by November 25, 2025. DEP inspection report. Five Star holds 4 permits.
Rocky Valley Gas & Oil Corp
November 17, 2025 routine inspection of the Hetrick 1 conventional gas well in Fairview Township, Butler County found the well abandoned and not plugged. Owner failed to submit production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Structure over well collapsed. Well was never inspected. Violations issued. Response requested by December 2. DEP inspection report. Rocky Valley Gas holds 1 permit.
PPP Future Dev Inc.
November 18, 2025 inspection of the James Sul 2 conventional gas well in Harborcreek Township, Erie County found the well abandoned and not plugged and was not capable of producing. This well had not been inspected before. Well drilled in 1978. Violations issued. Response requested by December 4. DEP inspection report. PPP Future holds 437 permits, including 15 abandoned wells.
Conventional Well Plugging Failure
Dale H. Campbell
November 6, 2025 follow-up inspection of the John E. Dunay 4917 conventional gas well in Washington Township, Fayette County found the well venting gas indicating a plugging failure. Violations issued. Response requested by November 21. DEP inspection report. Campbell holds 5 permits, 4 wells are inactive.
Evaluating Conventional Wells For Taxpayer-Funded Plugging
ARG Resources Inc.
November 17 - 19, 2025 evaluations of 26 abandoned conventional oil and gas wells in Highland Township, Elk County for plugging under the federal taxpayer-funded well plugging program. Click Here for a list of wells and links to inspection reports. ARG Resources Inc. is related to the American Refining Group in Bradford, McKean County. ARG Resources holds 1,860 permits, including 36 abandoned wells.
North Amer Oil & Gas Drilling Co. Inc.
November 19 - 21, 2025 evaluations of 33 abandoned conventional oil and gas wells in Harmony Township, Forest County for plugging under the federal taxpayer-funded well plugging program. Click Here for a list of wells and links to inspection reports. Includes some wells were already plugged as part of the DCNR Cornplanter State Forest plugging contract. North Amer Oil & Gas holds 1,430 permits, including 174 abandoned wells.
634 Abandoned Conventional Well Violations In 2025
So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 634 violations to 123 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; Cohen IND Inc.; Consolidated Coal Co.; Dorothy Craft; Edward E. & Frederick J. Craig; Edward E. Craig; Norbert J. Cross; 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; Five Star Investment Group Inc.; Glade Resource Developers; Greenway Energy LLC; H & S Gas & Oil; Michael Harju; Donald S. Kelly; Harry L. King; Hyde Park Foundry & Mach Co; Thomas A. Hodge; Horizontal Exploration LLC; Howard Drilling Inc.; Robert L. Hunter; Iron Pennsylvania Land LLC; Donald Jeannerett; JPS Lawncare & Landscaping; K Petroleum Inc.; Mary Jane Katchmark; Keystone Crude LLC; Raymond J. Kaufman; Kiski Valley Gas Co.; Kriebel Natural Gas Co LLC; 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.; Ronald D. Meyer; 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; PPP Future Dev Inc.; 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; Rock Oil Resources, LLC; Rocksauce OPR LLC; Rocky Valley Gas & Oil Corp; 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.; and Zurn IND LLC.
Conventional Spills/Releases
Raymond D. Langer [1,038 Days]
November 14, 2025 compliance evaluation of the Choeller 1 conventional well in Robinson Township, Allegheny County found the owner has made some progress, but still had not complied with a DEP order issued on March 24, 2025 to cleanup multiple spill areas on the site. The spills were originally discovered on January 11, 2023. Site characterization and a waste disposal plan were not submitted and 2 production tanks were still draining into diked area around the tanks. DEP recommends the owner comply with the order. DEP inspection report. Raymond D. Langer holds 22 permits.
Raymond D. Langer [1,038 Days]
November 14, 2025 compliance evaluation of the J. Riddle 2 conventional well in Robinson Township, Allegheny County found the owner still has not complied with a DEP order issued on March 24, 2025 to cleanup spill areas on the well site. Original violations were issued on January 11, 2023. DEP observed a hose from a storage tank draining into a diked area with a “thick brown/green oily substance.” Samples were taken. Additional remediation needs to be performed. Violation continued for failing to comply with DEP order. DEP inspection report. Raymond D. Langer holds 22 permits.
First Amer Energy Inc. [382 Days]
November 14, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Warrant 4917 156 conventional well in Foster Township, McKean County found no progress had been made in cleaning up spill areas outside secondary containment. Two excavated areas were found full of contaminated water and two uncovered stockpiles of contaminated soil remain on the site. The owner failed to comply with a DEP order issued to clean up the site issued on October 28, 2024. Violations continued for failing to comply with the order. No request made of well owner. DEP inspection report. First Amer Energy holds 586 permits, including 20 abandoned wells.
Frank L. Washabaugh Oil Producers [357 Days]
November 5, 2025 compliance review of William M. Johnson 1 conventional well in Cross Creek Township, Washington County found continued failure to comply with spill cleanup order issued on June 16, 2025. While slight progress was made in replacing a storage tank months before, remediation of the release itself has not begun. The original violations for the release were issued on November 13, 2024 which the owner never responded to. Follow-up inspections in December 2024 and September 11, 2025 found no progress. Failure to comply with order violation continued. No specific requests made of owner. DEP inspection report. Washabaugh Oil holds 5 permits.
JJ Bucher Producing Corp [151 Days]
November 18, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Hastings 37 conventional oil well in Sharon Township, Potter County found little effort was made to clean up multiple crude oil spills from buried metal and wooden tanks on the site. Oil was first found flowing from the tanks into an unnamed tributary of Horse Run on June 20, 2025 and follow-up inspections on July 16 and September 16. DEP recommended finding the cause of the releases, taking a number of steps to prevent further spills and cleaning up contaminated areas. Violations continued. DEP inspection report. JJ Bucher holds 331 permits, including 15 abandoned wells.
2025 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups
So far in 2025, DEP received or acted on 162 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.
Pipeline Construction Violations
EQM Gathering OPCO LLC [EQT]
November 12, 2025 inspection of the NINFS004 Pipeline construction site in Union Township, Washington County in response to a notification on November 7 of “bubbling” in a stream from drilling under a road and a stream. This is the same project that reported six “inadvertent” returns during drilling so far. The inspection found no leak of drilling material, but did observe significant mud in a stream at an access road crossing. A violation was issued. Owner was requested to remove the mud. DEP inspection report.
Failure To Restore Shale Gas Well Pad
M4 Energy LLC [1,418 Days]
November 3, 2025 compliance evaluation of the MAWC 7020 shale gas well pad in Springfield Township, Fayette County found the owner failed to comply with an amended December 16, 2021 consent order to restore the well site by October 30, 2025. Bare, unvegetated soil was observed over much of the former well pad location with earthwork going on during the inspection. Erosion and sedimentation control measures were improperly installed. No restoration plan was found at the site. DEP recommended the owner reassess whether the E & S controls at the site are adequate for site restoration. Violation issued. Response requested by December 4. DEP inspection report. M4 Energy holds 3 permits.
Failure To Submit Monthly Shale Gas Waste, Production Reports
Frontier Natural Resources
On November 19, 2025, DEP issued a notice of violation for failure to submit production and waste generation report for September 2025 for one or more unconventional shale gas wells located in West Keating Township, Clinton County. Response requested in 10 days. Frontier holds 9 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-- Rocksauce Operating LLC abandoned and did not plug 35 conventional wells, failed to submit annual reports for 83 conventional wells; Crude oil gathering pipeline failure at Bull Run Resources LLC conventional well traveled nearly 2 football fields; Row 2-- M4 Energy LLC failed to restore shale gas well pad for 1,418 and counting; EQM Gathering OPCO LLC [EQT] mud clogging stream from access road at pipeline construction site; Row 3-- Leaking, buried metal and wooden storage tanks at JJ Bucher Producing Corp conventional well site; Raymond D. Langer failed to clean up spills at two conventional well site for 1,038 days.)
[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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