PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP: Range Resources Force Heating, Cutting Apart Frozen Polyethylene Shale Gas Water Pipeline To Release Water, Ice In Mount Pleasant Twp., Washington County

On January 21, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection inspected the Yonker - Carns shale gas freshwater pipeline in response to a notification by Range Resources Appalachia, LLC the pipeline had frozen in Mount Pleasant Township, Washington County.

On January 22, the Mount Pleasant Township Police reported the freezing of the pipeline serving the Yonker Tank Pad would require the company to switch to hauling water by truck. The police said repairs to the pipeline could take two weeks. Read more here.

[Note: Mount Pleasant Township is also where horizontal drilling for new shale gas-related pipelines by MarkWest Liberty Midstream caused the release of 1.2 million gallons of drilling fluids into abandoned mine voids along the pipeline route from October to early January. Read more here.]

During DEP’s inspection, Range Resources said they were in the process of dewatering the aboveground polyethylene pipeline at multiple locations along its route by "forcing heat into the line" and cutting the pipeline open to release water and ice.

However, Range said the frozen water in the pipeline meant the company could not follow the dewatering plan it had in place for incidents like this and limited the locations where water and ice could be released.

The company said at one location the operation "sprayed freshwater from the line into a nearby stream and into the trees along the stream."

During its inspection, DEP took initial field measurements to verify freshwater was being released during the dewatering operations.

DEP requested a response to the inspection report, "including information in regard to the

dewatering of the TWL, including but not limited to, all areas of the TWL that were dewatered with photos and specific conductivity results of the areas, a total volume of water released during

dewatering, the Operator's plan for bringing the line back into use, and the Operator's dewatering plan."

DEP's inspection report said "although no violations are observed, violations may be forthcoming pending further review."

Click Here for DEP's inspection report + photos and the initial notification.

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: Top- Cut pipeline sprayed water into trees and a stream; Force heating pipeline; Pipeline crossing stream; Bottom- Pipeline cut at multiple locations to release ice, water; Field measuring conductivity to verify freshwater was being released. DEP inspection report.)

[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:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard- January 3 to 30 [PaEN]

-- DEP: Day 455 And Counting: Seneca Resources Continues To Release Wastewater, Frack New Shale Gas Wells At Taft Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Owner Of At Least 43 Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Issued Violations For 6 More On State Game Lands In Venango County; Efforts To Locate The Owner Have Been Unsuccessful [PaEN]

-- DEP: Eureka Resources Has Until Jan. 31 To Remove All Wastewater From Its 3 Closed Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Plants; About 1.5 Million Gallons Of Wastewater Remains In Bradford County Facility [PaEN]

-- DEP: Seneca Resources Failed To Submit Area Of Review Reports To Identify Possible Conflicts With Other Wells Prior To Start Of Drilling 4 Shale Gas Wells In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County.

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - January 31 [PaEN]

-- Governor’s Regulatory Agenda Includes Update Of Regulations For Conventional Oil & Gas Wells; New Injection Well Controls; Shale Gas Application Fee [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Air Quality Permit For 15 Natural Gas Generators To Power Iron City Wells, LLC Data Center In Karthaus Twp., Clearfield County [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 75 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In January 31 PA Bulletin [PaEN]