On June 25, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection conducted an incident inspection in response to a notification on June 17, 2026 by Equitrans Water SVC (PA) LLC [EQT] of a release of wastewater from a pipeline connected to its Richter Shale Gas Water Impoundment during reclamation of the site in Aleppo Township, Greene County.
DEP’s inspection report said EQT "was actively working on restoring the Richter Impoundment when the release occurred.”
“As a part of the restoration, the water line vault was decommissioned, the valves were cut from the waterlines, and the concrete vault box was removed.”
EQT indicated that an unknown amount of impaired fluid was released to the ground on June 17, 2026.
“The fluid originated from the pipeline previously connected to the decommissioned waterline vault. The impaired fluid proceeded to enter the impoundment and southern slope below the impoundment.”
EQT "indicated that a toe key drain was located and elevated fluid was detected emanating from that location and was reported to exhibit elevated conductivity readings."
"Contractors removed the fluid from the impoundment by pumping the fluid into a filter bag located on the east side of the project and later discovered that the fluid within the impoundment was not precipitation but rather the impaired fluid from the release.”
‘DEP] I observed elevated fluid within rain garden, within two seeps upgradient from the rain garden, and a line of distressed vegetation between the filter bag and the raingarden.
DEP “also observed distressed vegetation beginning at the filter bag heading east off the limit of disturbance and onto the adjacent landowners’ property."
“Moody and Associates and SPSI were on site delineating the impacted areas. The contractor was in the process of removing impacted soil from the impoundment.
“The impacted material was being loaded into rolloff boxes and staged for disposal.
“Approximately 21 rolloff boxes were staged for disposal with additional boxes anticipated.”
EQT said they plan to use the Act 2 Land Recycling cleanup stands and process for the release of contaminated water.
Multiple violations were issued, including--
-- Failure to notify DEP of the release as soon as practicable
-- Discharging industrial waste into waters of the Commonwealth
-- Failure to manage oil and gas waste to prevent pollution
-- Failure to properly disposal of oil and gas waste
-- Failure to document compliance with regulations and make records available
DEP requested a response by July 17. DEP inspection report + photos.
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.
(Photo: Row 1-- Mapped of impacted areas shown as hatched areas; Removing contaminated material from impoundment; Excavated benches below former pipeline valve area; Row 2-- Distressed vegetation going downslope; Excavated bench down slope; Contaminated rain garden.)
[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.]
[Posted: June 30, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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