Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between November 22 to 28--
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 21--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 42 conventional, 10 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 5,387 conventional and 1,158 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2025: 396 conventional and 151 unconventional (orders, agreements)
-- Inspections Last Week: 474 conventional and 479 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 18,550 conventional and 23,421 unconventional
$3.3 Million Penalty Imposed For Years Of Polluting Allegheny River
On November 24, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has entered into a Consent Order and Agreement (COA) with Energy Transfer, LLC (formerly Sunoco Inc.) and Atlantic Richfield Company requiring the companies to enhance remediation efforts related to decades-old petroleum contamination and address ongoing oil sheens on the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood.
Under the agreement, DEP will collect a $3.3 million civil penalty against the operators for multiple violations of the Clean Streams Law, the Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act, and the Solid Waste Management Act. Read more here.
4th MarkWest Pipeline Construction Spill Into Mine Voids - 10,000 Gallons
On November 21, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection was notified by MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC that horizontal drilling operations on the construction of the shale gas-related Chiarelli to Imperial pipeline resulted in the loss of approximately 10,000 gallons of a water and bentonite mixture into coal mine voids under Mount Pleasant Township, Washington County. Read more here.
Lazy Oil Company Issued Violations For 12 Abandoned Conventional Wells
On November 20, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection inspected 12 never before inspected conventional oil and gas wells owned by the Lazy Oil Company in Clinton Township, Venango County and found all 12 wells abandoned and not plugged. None of the wells could be located at the GPS coordinates listed on their oil and gas well registrations that were all issued on the same day-- April 19, 1990. Read more here.
9 Abandoned Conventional Well Violation
Reel Resources Inc. [2,089 Days]
November 24, 2025 compliance evaluation of the W. Clyde Swank 1 conventional well in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County found the well abandoned and not plugged and not in compliance with an order issued on April 23, 2025 to plug the well. The original violations for well abandonment, venting gas and failure to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports date from March 6, 2020. Reel Resources holds 40 permits. Violations continued. Response requested by December 14. DEP inspection report.
West Silas [1,915 Days]
November 3, 2025 follow-up inspection of the McKnown HRS 3 conventional well in Washington Township, Westmoreland County found the well still was abandoned and not plugged. Owner failed to submit a well integrity report-- ever-- or a production and waste generation/disposal report for 25 years. Owner failed to address any of the violations which were originally issued on August 6, 2020, continued on June 15, 2023 and continued on October 31, 2024. The violations were continued again with a response requested by December 14 DEP Nov. 3 inspection report. West Silas holds one permit
Ows Acquisition Co. LLC [1,448 Days]
November 25, 2025 inspection of the David & Denise Lengel Et al 1 conventional well in Findley Township, Mercer County as a result of a complaint found the well abandoned and not plugged. Wastewater tank damaged by fallen tree and stressed vegetation found around the tank. Original abandonment violation issued on December 8, 2021. Owner contacted and said he would remove tree and damaged tank the week of Dec. 1. Violations continued. DEP inspection report. Ows Acquisition holds 1,072 permits, including 1 abandoned well.
Apollo Resources LLC [665 Days]
November 7, 2025 follow-up inspection of the County of Cambria (Yahner) 4 conventional well in Clearfield Township, Cambria County found the well was still abandoned and not plugged. Original violation issued January 12, 2024. Violations continued. Response requested by November 27. DEP inspection report. Apollo Resources holds 1,895 permits, including 2 abandoned wells.
Harvey E. Gutmo
November 20, 2025 inspection of the Beef & Bloom 1 and Beef & Bloom 2 conventional wells in Penn Township, Butler County found the Bloom 1 well abandoned and not plugged. Owner also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports for both Bloom 1 and Bloom 2 wells. Written violations issued for both wells. Response requested by December 8. DEP inspection Bloom 2 report. DEP inspection Bloom 1 report. Gutmo holds 2 permits.
Allegany Resource Dev LLC
November 20, 2025 inspection of the Mott Farm 1 conventional well in Keating Township, McKean found the well abandoned and not plugged. Violation issued. Response requested by December 12. DEP inspection report. Allegany Resource holds 3 permits.
Lee Ghere
November 25, 2025 inspection of the Ghere Laniewicz 2 conventional well in Washington Township, Erie County found the well abandoned and not plugged. Owner failed to submit production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Well was never inspected before. Violations issued. No response requested of owner. DEP inspection report. Lee Ghere holds 2 permits, both abandoned wells.
Exotic Oil & Gas LLC
November 18, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Loretta Parkins et al 3 conventional well in Murrysville Borough, Westmoreland County found the well still abandoned, not plugged and leaking gas. Original violations issued June 30, 2025. Violations continued. Response requested by December 3. DEP inspection report. Exotic holds 319 permits.
Diversified Production LLC
November 20, 2025 compliance evaluation for the RE Eberly 1 conventional well in Springfield Township, Fayette County found the well site, access road not restored within 9 months after the well was plugged on February 10, 2025. Owner failed to comply with a consent order and agreement issued on March 7, 2019 to plug and restore the site. The notice of well site restoration was returned to the owner. New violation issued for failing to comply with a DEP order. Response requested by December 9. DEP inspection report.
655 Abandoned Conventional Well Violations In 2025
So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 655 violations to 127 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.; Allegany Resource Dev LLC; 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.; Lee Ghere; Glade Resource Developers; Greenway Energy LLC; Harvey E. Gutmo; 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; Lazy Oil Company; 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; West Silas; Ronald Wise; Mary A. Woodring; Woodward Inc.; and Zurn IND LLC.
Failure To Submit Conventional Production, Waste, Well Integrity Reports
BCD Prop Inc.
November 6, 2025 inspection of the Joe & Chester Zombeck 1 and George & Wanda Ballog 1 conventional wells in Union Township, Erie County found the owner failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports for 2024. Violations issued. Owner was advised of the violation via the inspection report.
Conventional Well Spills/Releases
Winfall Energy Inc. NV [48 Days]
November 19, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Municipal Authority 1 conventional well in Oklahoma Borough, Westmoreland County found no progress had been made in cleaning up multiple spills at the site and storage tank was actively leaking. Owner is under a DEP order to clean up the site. Original violations issued October 2, 2025. Violations continued. Response requested by December 10. DEP inspection report.
BCD Prop Inc.
November 20, 2025 inspection of the Clifford W. Bloss 1 conventional well in Union Township, Erie County found the owner failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports for 2024 and a wastewater storage tank was found to have an open outlet that could release wastewater if levels of fluid reached that point. DEP recommended plugging the tank outlet. Violations issued for failing to submit reports. Owner was advised of the violation via the inspection report. DEP inspection report. BCD Prop holds 104 permits, including 4 abandoned wells.
Thomas & Kimerlie Dawson
November 13, 2025 inspection of the Norman & Mervin Troyer 3 conventional well in Union Township, Erie County found production wastewater leaking from a split pipe. Owner failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Well was never inspected before. Violations issued. Owner was advised of the violations via the inspection report. DEP inspection report. T & K Dawson holds 1 permit.
Shale Gas Spills/Releases
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC
November 12, 2025 routine inspection of the Porter shale gas well pad in North Branch Township, Wyoming County found wet fracking sand with elevated conductivity had “escaped” outside of secondary containment on the unprotected pad. The sand was being mixed with production wastewater in the blender. There are also multiple areas of what appeared to be contaminated water on the pad. Fracking operations were going on at three shale gas wells during the inspection. Violations were issued. Response requested by December 3. DEP inspection report.
2025 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups
So far in 2025, DEP received or acted on 163 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.
Shale Gas Casing/Cementing Failure
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC [5,374 Days]
November 19, 2025 inspection of the Crawford 4H shale gas well in Terry Township, Bradford County for regular monitoring of casing/cement failure first discovered and violation issued on March 4, 2011. Well is still venting gas from one annulus and is open to the Atmosphere. Violation continued. Regular monitoring to continue. DEP inspection report.
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC [1,857 Days]
November 20, 2025 inspection of the Jacobson 3HX & 4HX shale gas wells in Franklin Township, Bradford County for regular monitoring of casing/cement failure first reported by owner on October 20, 2020 as “bubbling outside surface casing.” Violations issued on June 9, 2025. 3HX well leaking small amount of gas from one annulus. 4HX well not leaking gas. Violations continued. Regular monitoring to continue. DEP inspection report.
Conventional Wells Leaking Gas
EQT Production Co.
November 19, 2025 inspection of the Richard Pethel 1 conventional well in Freeport Township, Greene County found the well leaking gas. Owner failed to submit an annual well integrity report. New violation issued. Response requested by December 3. DEP inspection report.
PPP Future Dev Inc.
November 24, 2025 inspection of the Carl J. Border 1 conventional well in Harborcreek Township, Erie County found the well leaking gas and with a corroded wastewater tank unable to hold fluids. Well never inspected. Violations issued. Response requested by December 4. DEP inspection report.
Slope Failures, Soil Movement On Pipeline Right-of-Way
MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC [1,279 Days]
November 19, 2025 inspection of multiple areas along the Chase To Zappi Pipeline shale gas-related pipeline right-of-way in Independence Township, Washington County and found continued evidence of soil displacement and soil movement. DEP continues to request a geotechnical report on whether the areas threaten the integrity of the pipeline and recommendations for stabilization. Original violations issued on May 20, 2022. Violations continued. DEP inspection report.
MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC
November 19, 2025 inspection of multiple areas along the Brownlee to Timber Lake shale gas-related gathering pipeline right-of-way in Buffalo Township, Washington County and found possible slope failure at several locations. DEP requests a geotechnical report on the areas to determine if they threaten the integrity of the pipeline and recommendations for stabilization. Violations issued. Response requested by December 10. 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: Row 1-- MarkWest Liberty Midstream loses 10,000 gallons of drilling fluid into mine voids for 4th time; Energy Transfer/Sunoco, Atlantic Richfield fined $3.3 million for contaminating Allegheny River for years; Lazy Oil Company issued violations for abandoning 12 conventional wells, wells aren’t where their registrations say they should be; Row 2-- Abandoned Ows Acquisition Co. LLC conventional well with wastewater tank flattened by fallen tree; EQT Production Co. conventional well leaking gas, failed to submit well integrity report; Reel Resources Inc. failed to plug abandoned conventional well for 2,089 days and counting.)
[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. 22 to 28: $3.3 Million Penalty; 10,000 Gallon Spill Into Mine Voids, For 4th Time; 21 More Abandoned Conventional Wells; Wet Fracking Sand ‘Escapes’ Containment [PaEN]
-- DEP Settlement With Energy Transfer/Sunoco, Atlantic Richfield Imposes $3.3 Million Penalty, Including $1 Million Community Improvement Projects For Polluting Allegheny River [PaEN]
-- DEP To Host Dec. 8 Virtual Update On Response To Energy Transfer/Sunoco Pipeline Leak In Upper Makefield Twp., Bucks County [PaEN]
-- DEP: MarkWest Liberty Midstream Pipeline Construction Results In 10,000 Gallon Spill Into Coal Mine Void Under Washington County, For The 4th Time [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues Lazy Oil Company Violations For Abandoning 12 Conventional Wells In Venango County; None Of The Wells Could Be Found At Their GPS Coordinates; If You Know More, Call DEP [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 29 [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For Site Construction Of Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus 4.5 GW Natural Gas Power Plant In Indiana County [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 84 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 29 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Environmental Quality Board Meets Dec. 9 On Petitions To Increase Setbacks From Shale Gas Wells, Oil & Gas Wastewater Processing, Water System Operator, Radiation Protection Fees [PaEN]
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - December 1 [PaEN]
-- PJM Market Monitor Files Complaint With FERC Saying PJM Is Proposing To Allow A.I. Data Centers To Connect To Grid That It Cannot Reliably Serve, Will Require Blackouts To Maintain Service [PaEN]
-- PUC Invites Comments On Model Tariff For Connecting A.I. Data Center To The Grid
-- PUC Commissioners Agree On Need To ‘Get It Right’ On Reforming Grid Connection Process For Solar, Renewable, All Energy Sources To Protect Consumers, Grid Reliability [PaEN]
-- PUC Chairman Highlights 'Extraordinary Challenges' Pennsylvania Families Are Facing This Winter With Energy Bills And His Appreciation For Groups Providing Assistance [PaEN]
-- PUC: Most PA Electric Utility Consumers To See 3.7% To 10.6% Increase In Electricity Prices During The Next 3 Months Starting Dec. 1 [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Utility Dive: PJM Market Monitor: No More PJM Data Centers Unless They Can Be Reliably Served
-- Utility Dive: US EIA: Residential Electricity Prices Continue Rise, Up 7.4% In September; Natural Gas Up 47.4%; No One Sees A Near-Term Solution
-- PA Capital-Star: PJM Grid Operator Weighs Proposals To Manage A.I. Data Center Impact On Electricity Affordability And Reliability
-- Utility Dive: US DOE A.I. Data Center Load Connection Proposal Sparks Federal-State Jurisdiction Concerns, Data Centers Offer Qualified Support
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Natural Gas Power Plant For Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus Receives DEP Air Permit [PDF of Article]
-- Tribune-Democrat: Clean Air Council Opposing Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus 4.5 GW Natural Gas Power Plant Permit [PDF of Article]
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Electricity Costs Set To Rise In Most Of PA Next Month Due To A.I. Data Center Demands, Backlog Of New Generation Sources [Duquesne Light: Customers Facing ‘Astronomically Higher Bills’]
-- TribLive: Duquesne Light Electric Rates Climb 10.6% Starting Dec. 1, As Statewide Electric Price Hikes Being
-- WHYY: Philadelphia Gas Works Residential Customers To See Monthly Bills Jump By About $6
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Energy Transfer/Sunoco, Atlantic Richfield To Pay $3.3 Million Penalty For Decades Of Oil Pollution In Allegheny River
-- Williamsport Sun: Williamsport Sees Dip In Act 13 Drilling Impact Fee Revenue In Recent Years [Because It Isn’t Based On Gas Production, But Number Of Wells
-- ABC27: UGI Unveils New Liquefied Natural Gas Facility In Cumberland County
-- AAA Average Gasoline Prices: National- $3.01 Ohio- $2.68 PA- $3.22
-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs - 18 - Same As Last Week
-- PublicPower.org: US DOE Extends Closure Date Again For Eddystone Natural Gas Power Plant In Delaware County Under ‘Emergency’ Order [Click Here for Order]
-- Environmental Defense Fund: President’s EPA Delays Methane Pollution Protections From Oil & Gas Industry Despite Health Risks, Energy Waste, Widespread Opposition
-- EPA Extends Deadlines For Oil & Gas Industry Methane Emissions Reporting And Certain Compliance Dates
-- PennLive Guest Essay: Federal Red Tape Is Strangling Pennsylvania Natural Gas Energy Boom - By Joseph Pitts, Former PA Member Of Congress
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Tenaris Bets Big On Koppel Steel Plant’s Future In Oil, Gas Pipe Production
[Posted: November 30, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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