Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between December 27 to January 2--
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 December 26--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 34 conventional, 7 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 5,779 conventional and 1,275 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2025: 413 conventional and 169 unconventional (orders, agreements)
-- Inspections Last Week: 148 conventional and 171 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 20,365 conventional and 25,755 unconventional
Range Resources Suffers Casing Failure/Loss Of Control Incident In Washington County
On December 17, 2025 at 10:30 p.m., the Department of Environmental Protection was notified by email of a casing failure/loss of control incident during fracking operations at the Range Resources Appalachia LLC Burkett shale gas well pad in Jefferson Township, Washington County. The incident triggered an Area of Review Fracture Communication Incident Report to determine any offsite impacts. Read more here.
Seneca Resources Well Pad Spills Continue For 426 Days
On December 23, 2025, the Department of Environmental Protection inspected the Seneca Resources Co. LLC Taft 851 shale gas well pad in Middlebury Township, Tioga County and found evidence of continuing spills and releases as drilling was completed on five new wells at the site. DEP’s inspection report documented instances of contaminated water with elevated conductivity on the well pad at various locations and in a measured release stormwater basin.
DEP issued the original spill violations at the site on October 23, 2024 and documented spills again during a July 11, 2025 inspection that were confirmed with water samples collected on August 21, 2025. Read more here.
Truck Traffic Destabilizes Shale Gas Pad Road Allowing Gravel, Sediment To Wash Off
On December 27, 2025, EQT Prod Co. notified the Department of Environmental Protection gravel and sediment washed off the access road to the Aphrodite shale gas well pad in Penn Township, Westmoreland County into a drainage way. EQT said the incident was the result of a high volume of truck traffic and freeze/thaw cycles destabilizing the access road before a series of precipitation events. Read more here.
EHB Denies DEP Motion To Dismiss Appeal Over Illegal Road Dumping Of Conventional Wastewater
On December 29, the Environmental Hearing Board issued an opinion and order denying the Department of Environmental Protection’s motion to dismiss BCD Properties appeal finding the letter sent by DEP advising the company it did not comply with Residual Waste Coproduct Regulations involving the illegal road dumping of oil and gas wastewater was an appealable action. The appeal will now be heard on its merits. EHB Docket No. 2025066. Read more here.
3 Abandoned Conventional Well Violations
Stone Ridge Energy LLC [84 Days]
December 22, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Minor 1 conventional well in Springhill Township, Fayette County found the well continues to be abandoned and not plugged. Original violations issued September 29, 2025. Violations continued. Response requested by January 12. DEP inspection report. Stone Ridge holds 196 permits, including 4 abandoned wells, not this one.
Alloy Energy LLC
December 12, 2025 inspection of the RJ Lambert Et UX 1 conventional well in Stonycreek Township, Somerset County found the well abandoned and not plugged. The owner also failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports. Violations issued. Response requested by January 13. DEP inspection report. Alloy holds 2 permits.
MCH Corp
December 12, 2025 inspection of the Steva 1 conventional well in Millcreek Township, Erie County found the well abandoned and not plugged. The owner also failed to submit an annual production, waste generation and well integrity report. This well was not inspected before. Violations issued. Response requested by December 29. DEP inspection report. MCH Corp holds 4 permits.
688 Abandoned Conventional Well Violations In 2025
So far in 2025, DEP issued or continued 688 violations to 132 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; Alloy Energy 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.; Bemorich Inc.; Bialy Gas Production LLC; Blackrock Enterprises LLC; Darrel B. Blauser; JJ Bucher Producing Corp; Chris E. Burke; Timothy Cignetti; Cobra Resources LLC; 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.; MCH Corp; Medina Res Dev. Co LLC; 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.; Tombuco 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.
Conventional Well Spills/Releases
Petro SVC Partners Inc. [1,639 Days]
December 29, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Edwin Callen 1 conventional well in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County found the owner still failed to completely clean up wastewater spills originally found on June 29, 2021. The owner did remove the leaking wastewater tank as of a September 13, 2022 inspection, but did not document the quantity of wastewater released and that any material that was cleaned up was properly disposed of. Significant erosion and sedimentation violations continue on the access road, also originally found on June 29, 2021. Owner requested to finish cleanup, submit documentation and address access road violations. DEP inspection report. Petro SVC holds 174 permits, including 2 abandoned wells.
Keystone Crude LLC [867 Days]
December 24, 2025 follow-up inspection of the John Panner 4 conventional well in Robinson Township, Allegheny County found little action taken to cleanup multiple spills and address other violations at the well site since a July 29, 2025 inspection. An area that was cleaned up, is now contaminated again with wastewater. Original violations issued August 10, 2023. [Read more here]. Violations renewed on July 29, 2025. Violations continued during this inspection. Response requested by January 16. DEP inspection report. Keystone Crude holds 34 permits.
Keystone Crude LLC [867 Days]
December 24, 2025 follow-up inspection of the McCurdy 10 conventional oil and gas well in Robinson Township, Allegheny County found a wastewater tank still leaking fluids, evidence of contamination at multiple areas around the pad and little change from the last inspection in July. Original violations issued August 10, 2023 [Read more here] and June 11, 2024. Violations continued. Response requested by January 16. DEP inspection report.
Keystone Crude LLC [867 Days]
December 24, 2025 follow-up inspection of the D.M. Logan 3 conventional well in North Fayette Township, Allegheny County found nothing had been done to clean up multiple spills at the site or remove unused equipment from the site. Original violations issued August 10, 2023 [Read more here] and July 29, 2025. Violations continued. Response requested by January 16. DEP inspection report.
Ows Energy LLC [64 Days]
December 23, 2025 follow-up inspection of the Jewell Allen 1 conventional gas well in Wayne Township, Crawford County found the well still leaking gas and production wastewater. Original violation issued October 20, 2025. Violation continued and sent to Ows Energy. DEP inspection report. Ows Energy holds 2,623 permits, including 1 abandoned well.
Shale Gas Spills/Releases
Rice Drilling B LLC [EQT]
December 18, 2025 inspection of the John Briggs shale gas well pad in Aleppo Township, Greene County in response to a notification of a release on December 11 found an unknown quantity of wastewater washed out of containment and onto the well pad from the gas processing unit. Elevated conductivity was found in multiple locations. Some remediation was done, but is not complete. Violations issued. Response requested by January 5. DEP inspection report.
2025 Act 2 Oil & Gas Facility Pollution Cleanups
So far in 2025, DEP received or acted on 178 Act 2 Land Recycling notices related to oil and gas facility site cleanups. Read more here.
Failure To Restore Conventional Well Site
Ows Energy LLC
December 23, 2025 inspection of the Giovengo Unit 1 conventional oil and gas well site in Randolph Township, Crawford County as a result of a complaint found the owner failed to restore the well site and remove equipment after completing drilling. Three open top drums found on the site. Violation issued. Response requested by January 15. DEP inspection report.
Shale Gas Casing/Cement Failures
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC
December 18, 2025 inspections of the Shumhurst shale gas well pad 3H well and 24HC well in Tuscarora Township, Bradford County during well integrity testing confirmed gas in casing annuli indicating new casing/cementing failures in both wells. Gas samples were taken for isotopic analysis [indicating an investigation of methane pollution of one or more water supplies may be underway]. The 3H well was drilled in 2018 and the 24HC well was drilled in 2023. Violations issued. Response requested by February 2.
Chesapeake Appalachia LLC [1,149 Days]
December 4, 2025 inspections were done of the Molly J shale gas well pad 1HC well and 2HC well in Monroe Township, Bradford County as part of an ongoing casing/cementing failure monitoring. Original violations issued on October 12, 2022. Violation and monitoring to continue.
Seneca Resources Co LLC [3,638 Days]
December 16, 2025 inspection of the Chaapel Hollow shale gas well pad 6H well in Gamble Township, Lycoming County as part of ongoing casing/cementing failure monitoring. Original violations issued December 31, 2015. Violation and monitoring to continue. 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-- Range Resources Appalachia LLC shale gas well suffers casing failure/loss of control during fracking; Seneca Resources Co. LLC shale gas well pad spills continue for 426 days; Heavy truck traffic, freeze/thaw destabilizes EQT Prod Co. shale gas well pad access road; Row 2-- Alloy Energy LLC abandoned conventional well; One of 3 Keystone Crude LLC conventional wells not cleaned up in 867 days; Ows Energy LLC conventional well venting as, leaking wastewater; Release at Rice Drilling B LLC [EQT] shale gas pad washed over containment and onto pad; Stone Ridge Energy LLC abandoned conventional well.)
[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 - Dec. 27 to Jan. 2 - Shale Gas Well Casing Failure/Loss Of Control; Shale Gas Well Pad Spills Continue For 426 Days; Abandoned Conventional Well Violations Reach 688 [PaEN]
-- DEP: Range Resources Suffers Casing Failure/Loss Of Control Incident During Fracking At Burkett Shale Gas Well Pad Triggering Area Of Review Report On Any Offsite Impacts In Jefferson Twp., Washington County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Seneca Resources Still Experiencing Spills, Releases While New Well Development Continues At Taft Shale Gas Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County For 426 Days And Counting [PaEN]
-- DEP: High Volume Of Truck Traffic, Freeze/Thaw Destabilized EQT Prod Shale Gas Well Pad Access Road Allowing Gravel, Sediment To Wash Off Road In Westmoreland County [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - January 3 [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold Feb. 3 Virtual Hearing On Chapter 105 Permit For PA General Energy 3.9 Mile Shale Gas Well Pad Development Access Road, Staging Area In Loyalsock State Forest, Lycoming County [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold Feb. 4 Hearing On First Title V Air Quality Permit For The Tenaska Natural Gas Power Plant In Westmoreland County [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Water Quality Permit For A 3.7 Mile Natural Gas Gathering Pipeline Route In Elk And Forest Counties [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Tentative Decision To Not Renew NPDES Wastewater Permits For 3 Fluid Recovery Services Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Facilities In Indiana, Venango Counties [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues Air Quality General Permit For Diesel-Fired Nonroad Engines At Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus In Indiana County [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 57 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In January 3 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- DEP Accepting Comments On Proposed Consent Decree Resolving Outstanding Cleanup Cost Recovery Claims With The Remaining Defendants In Swimming Pool Doctor Hazardous Waste Site In Beaver County [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- DEP Publishes Final Environmental Justice Permit Review And Public Participation Policy, Update To PennEnviroScreen EJ Tool [PaEN]
-- Environmental Hearing Board Denies DEP Motion To Dismiss BCD Properties Appeal Over Its Illegal Disposal Of Oil And Gas Wastewater By Road Dumping; Case To Proceed On Its Merits [PaEN]
-- Protect PT Hosts Jan. 17 Living Near Shale Gas Facilities Community Workshop In Pittsburgh [PaEN]
-- Protect PT, FracTracker Alliance Host Jan. 27 Online Program Providing The Latest On Shale Gas Development And Information Tools [PaEN]
-- Solar United Neighbors, Protect PT Host Jan. 22 Solar Energy In Southwest PA Community Meeting In Westmoreland County [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnection: 2025 Year In Review Part I - Operations Improvement See Regional Electric Grid Through Record Peaks, Growing Demand [PaEN]
-- PA House Committee Approves Legislation Giving Local Officials Greater Say Over Regional-Scale Developments Like A.I. Data Centers, Warehouses [PaEN]
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - January 5 [PaEN]
-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Pittsburgh’s A.I. Skepticism Isn’t Ignorance, It’s Memory [Collapse Of Steel] - People Have ‘Every Right To Be Furious’ - By Desmond Daley, Physician and Pittsburgh Resident [PDF of Article]
NewsClips:
-- Bucks Courier Times: Residents Smelled Natural Gas Days Before Nursing Home Explosion In Bucks County; No 911 Calls For Gas Odor
-- Bucks Courier Times: Lawyer: PECO, Nursing Home Were Aware Of Natural Gas Leak For 2 Hours Before Deadly Blast
-- PennLive Letter: Cleaner Than Coal Isn’t Clean Enough For Pennsylvania’s Future - By Robert Little, Harrisburg
-- National Fuel Gas Projects 2026-27 Natural Gas Costs To Increase 6.82%
-- WTAJ: National Fuel Natural Gas Prices Set To Rise For Over 200,000 Pennsylvanians In 2026
-- AAA Average Gasoline Prices: National- $2.83 Ohio- $2.60 PA- $3.03
-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs - 18 - Same For 6 Weeks
-- Altoona Mirror: PA House Moves Legislation Giving Local Governments Authority Over Projects Of Regional Significance [House Bill 1764]
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: New CNX Resources CEO Takes The Helm Following Rapid Rise Through Company Ranks [PDF of Article]
-- Wall Street Journal: Be Prepared To Keep Paying More For Electricity - A.I. Data Center Demands, Rising Natural Gas Prices, Grid Infrastructure Costs [PDF of Article]
-- TribLive/AP: US Plans To Tap Oil Reserves In Venezuela President Says After Operation To Pluck Maduro From Power
-- Reuters: Venezuelan Oil Industry: World’s Largest Reserves, Decaying Infrastructure [Venezuela- 303 Billion Barrels, Saudi Arabia- 267 Billion Barrels, US- 48.3 Billion Barrels]
-- The Guardian: US Oil Giants Silent On President’s Claim They Will Spend Billions On Venezuelan Oil
-- Reuters Commentary: Five Energy Market Trends To Track In 2026 - The Year Of The Oil, LNG Natural Gas Glut
-- Reuters Commentary: The 2025 Energy Transition In 8 Charts - Clean Wins, Dirty Setbacks
[Posted: January 3, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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