“During inspection #4183490 conducted on 4/21/2024, the department discovered instances of elevated conductance fluid on the north side of the pad surface, in the sediment basin below the north side of the pad and in liquid flowing past the LOD [permitted area]. Samples were collected from four locations.”
The sample results showed elevated levels of aluminum, iron, manganese, chlorides, strontium and conductivity indicating contaminated water from shale gas drilling operations.
The wastewater violations were originally issued for wastewater releases on October 23, 2024 were continued.
DEP found similar conditions-- spills, crews trying to clean up the pad while drilling new shale gas wells-- starting October 23, 2024, then on July 11, 2025, August 21, 2025, October 2, 2025, October 31, 2025, December 23, 2025, January 21, 2026 and April 21, 2026.
"DEP recommends that Seneca continues to monitor the conditions on the pad surface and the sediment basin and remove elevated conductance fluids and soils as discovered. Prevent elevated conductance fluids from leaving the facility and causing pollution to the waters of the Commonwealth."
These violations have now continued for 609 days.
DEP did not request a written follow-up from Seneca.
Click Here for DEP inspection results.
Criminal Charges
On October 31, 2025, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced criminal charges against Seneca Resources, LLC, following multiple violations of Pennsylvania’s environmental protection laws in several counties, as recommended by the 48th and 51st Statewide Investigating Grand Juries.
Three separate criminal complaints were filed regarding the natural gas company’s violations related to improper waste management practices and policies.
Prominent in the Attorney General’s announcement of the charges was the fact that DEP repeatedly warned Seneca that their practices were not in line with Pennsylvania law, but those warnings were ignored or disputed. Read more here.
In all, Seneca is charged with 64 counts of violations of the Solid Waste Management Act and 36 counts of violations of the Clean Streams Law in Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga Counties. Read more here.
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: Sample locations in flowing fluid and at sediment basin.)
[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.]
Resource Links - Seneca Resources:
-- Attorney General Sunday: Criminal Charges Filed Against Seneca Resources For 64 Counts Of Illegal Dumping Of Shale Gas Waste In Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga Counties [PaEN]
-- No One Warned A Cameron County Family Their Water Well Was Contaminated By A Seneca Resources Shale Gas Wastewater Pipeline Rupture [PaEN]
-- DEP: Day 609 - Sample Results Confirm Continued Wastewater Releases At Seneca Resources Taft Shale Gas Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Day 587 And Counting: Seneca Resources Continues To Release Wastewater, Frack New Shale Gas Wells At Taft Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Day 545 And Counting: Seneca Resources Continues To Release Wastewater, Frack New Shale Gas Wells At Taft Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Spills, Releases Continue At Seneca Resources Taft Shale Gas Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County For 373 Days And Counting [PaEN]
-- DEP Day 239: Seneca Resources Wastewater Cleanup, Monitoring Efforts Continue At Vandergrift Shale Gas Well Pad In Charleston Twp., Tioga County [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Six Years And Counting: None Of The Recommendations The Grand Jury Made To Better Protect Pennsylvanians From The Impacts Of Shale Gas Development Have Been Adopted [PaEN]
-- DEP: Day 609 - Sample Results Confirm Continued Wastewater Releases At Seneca Resources Taft Shale Gas Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County [PaEN]
-- DEP Finds Large Release Of Contaminated Groundwater From Conventional Well Storage Tanks Flowing Out Of Containment; 4th Major Spill In Warren County In 9 Days [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Observer-Reporter: Withdrawal Of Democratic Candidate Opens Way For Environmental Advocate Jodi Borello To Challenge Republican Incumbent Sen. Camera Bartolotta As Independent [PDF of Article] [Click Here To Learn More About Her Background]
-- Jodi Borello For State Senate: Accountable To You! Not Corporations
-- Observer-Reporter: Western PA Revolutionized Energy Extraction With New Techniques, Technology-- Longwall Coal Mining, Shale Gas Drilling
-- Utility Dive: TVA Considers Up To 26 GW Of Natural Gas-Fired Generation To Help Meet A.I. Data Center Demand
-- Bloomberg: Qatar Says Explosion At Natural Gas Export Facility That Left 13 Dead Should Not Affect LNG Exports
-- AP: Qatar Says Natural Gas Export Terminal Blast Killed 13 As Workers Tried To Resume Operations
[Posted: June 25, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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