PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP Signs Consent Orders With CNX Gas, Leatherwood LLC Requiring The Plugging Of 5 Conventional Coal Bed Methane Wells Prior To Longwall Coal Mining In Center Twp., Greene County

On April 7, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection signed consent orders and agreements with CNX Gas Company LLC and Leatherwood, LLC to require the plugging of five conventional coal bed methane wells prior to underground longwall mining in Center Township, Greene County.

The consent orders cover the obligations of each company in the transfer of the five wells from CNX Gas to Leatherwood so Leatherwood can plug the wells prior to coal mining operations in Center Township.

The CNX Gas consent order amends a 2019 consent order signed with DEP covering violations at these and other wells.

On October 2, 2019, CNX and DEP signed a consent order resolving violations by requiring the plugging of 141 coal bed methane and gas wells and 5 unconventional gas wells in Allegheny, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties. [Read more here]

The settlement required CNX to post a $1.48 million performance bond and provided an extended schedule for CNX to plug the wells and restore the well sites.

Click Here for a copy of the CNX Gas COA.

Click Here for a copy of the Leatherwood COA.

CNX Gas Company and Leatherwood have a common corporate history going back to CONSOL Energy.

In 2017, CONSOL Energy split off its natural gas operations to form CNX Resources Corp. of which CNX Gas Company is a part.

The coal operations became CONSOL Energy, Inc. of which Leatherwood, LLC is now a part.

The operations of both companies remain closely related, sometimes of the same properties.

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.

Resource Link:

-- DEP Reaches Settlement With CNX On Well Plugging Violations At 141 Conventional Coalbed Methane & Gas Wells, 5 Unconventional Gas Wells In 4 Southwest Counties [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - April 25 to May 1: Violations For Conventional Well Abandonment Top 204; Cleaning Up Shale Gas Wastewater Release For 245 Days [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 245: Expand Operating LLC Continuing Cleanup Of Ongoing Shale Gas Fracking Wastewater Release From Well Pad In Great Bend Twp., Susquehanna County [PaEN]

-- DEP Signs Consent Orders With CNX Gas, Leatherwood LLC Requiring The Plugging Of 5 Conventional Coal Bed Methane Wells Prior To Longwall Coal Mining In Center Twp., Greene County [PaEN]

-- ‘Emergency’ Upset Natural Gas/Chemical Flare At MarkWest Harmon Cryogenic Natural Gas Processing Plant In Washington County Was Briefly Almost As Bright As The Moon Last Night - Live Breathe Project Cameras [April 30]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - May 2 [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For 4.5 Mile EQT ARO Natural Gas Pipeline On State Forest Land In Lycoming County [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 62 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In May 2 PA Bulletin [PaEN]

-- DEP Accepting Comments On 2nd Stormwater Permit For SNA North LLC/QTS A.I. Data Center Project In Salem Twp., Luzerne County [PaEN]

-- Public Utility Commission Sets July 10 Telephonic Hearing On PPL Condemnation Of 30 Properties For The Sugarloaf 500/230KV Transmission Line In Luzerne County To Serve Data Centers [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold June 16 Hearing On Water Quality Permit For Rustic Ridge II Coal Mining Permit In Westmoreland County [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold May 21 Informal Conference To Take Comments On The Proposed Addition Of 7,154 Acres To The Rosebud Mining Company Penfield Coal Mine In Clearfield County [PaEN]

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