At the Loomis Lease Loomis 4 well site with two contaminated groundwater storage tanks, inspectors found “evidence of a concentrated flow of fluids was observed just beyond the secondary containment diking.”
“Bare soils outside of containment were observed to have been eroded in a manner consistent with the channelized flow of a large volume of fluid.”
“Areas downslope of the tank battery where the flow of fluid was observed to widen (visible via the wide swath of stressed and dead vegetation).”
“The downslope path of the released fluid was then captured by a lease road ditch approximately 150 feet downslope of the tank battery.
“The total observed path of stressed/dead vegetation and elevated conductivity readings was approximately 750 feet in length and up to 30 feet in width.”
Multiple field readings confirmed very high conductivity levels consistent with a release of contaminated groundwater from the well.
At the Akins Lease Akins 1 conventional well site there was evidence of stress and dead vegetation in the vicinity of two contaminated groundwater storage tanks at the site.
A drain line was installed at the top of one contaminated groundwater tank that allowed overflow from the tank to pool within the secondary containment area around the tank.
“Evidence of pooling was visible in the containment area via crude oil staining and stressed vegetation.
“This indicates that fluid once filled the secondary containment, but apparently was able to migrate downward and/or outward through the secondary containment diking.
“Stressed and dead vegetation downslope and immediately outside the secondary containment dike further indicates the likelihood that the integrity of the secondary containment is inadequate.
“Understory vegetation was killed in an area approximately 30 feet wide by 200 feet long.”
There was also a buried tank for storing contaminated groundwater that showed evidence of a release.
Multiple field readings confirmed very high conductivity levels consistent with a release of contaminated groundwater from the well.
Multiple violations were issued at both wells, including failure to notify DEP of the releases.
DEP requested a response to the violations by June 29.
DEP inspection reports/photos: Loomis Lease Loomis 4 and Akins Lease Akins 1.
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-- Loomis contaminated groundwater storage tanks start of release; 2 photos of dead vegetation showing path of release flowing downhill; Field measuring conductivity; Row 2-- Atkins contaminated groundwater aboveground tanks, buried storage tank; dead vegetation showing path of release; Field measuring conductivity.)
[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 - June 13 to 19 - 4 Contaminated Groundwater Releases From Conventional Wells; Abandoned Conventional Well Violations Hit 300 [PaEN]
-- DEP Finds Large Releases Of Contaminated Groundwater From 2 Trinity Mineral Partners Conventional Oil & Gas Well Sites In Sugar Grove Twp., Warren County; That’s 3 Spill Sites This Week [PaEN]
-- DEP Finds Releases Of Contaminated Groundwater From Trinity Mineral Partners Conventional Oil & Gas Well Site In Brokenstraw Twp., Warren County, 3rd Site This Week [PaEN]
-- DEP Finds No Action Taken To Cleanup Contaminated Groundwater From Conventional Oil Well At A Site In Washington County For 936 Days [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - June 20 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 51 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In June 20 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- Reminder: PUC Hearings On PPL Data Center Transmission Line Project In Luzerne County June 30
-- The Public Utility Commission published notice in the June 20 PA Bulletin of a July 13 telephonic hearing on a default electric service plan and advanced metering infrastructure surcharge by the Pike County Light and Power Company. PUC Docket No. P-2026-3062915
Related Articles This Week:
-- PUC Announced Distribution Of $243.8 Million In Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fees For PA Communities, State Environmental, Other Programs [PaEN]
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - June 22 [PaEN]
-- Guest Essay: For America's 250th, Let's Return Power To The Town Square - The Right To Plan Our Future, Protect Our Backyards, Have A Seat At The Table - By David M. Sanko, PA State Association Of Township Supervisors [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Rolling Stone/DeSmog - Justin Nobel: Her Son Died Of A Rare Bone Cancer, Could Unsecured Oil & Gas Equipment Waste Facility In Cecil Twp., Washington County Be To Blame?
-- Inquirer: Delta Monroe Energy Jet Fuel Refinery In Delaware County Shuts Down Due To Internal Leak
-- ProPublicia: President Plans To Protect Methane-Leaking Conventional /Stripper Oil & Gas Wells, Hilcorp Oil & Gas Company Owner To Benefit [Hilcorp Operates In PA]
-- In Case You Were Wondering: Breathe Project Cams: ‘Emergency’ Flares Still Burning At MarkWest Harmon Creek, Energy Transfer Revolution Natural Gas Processing Plants In Washington County 6.17.26
-- TribLive: New Shale Gas Wells, Higher Natural Gas Prices Raise State’s Drilling Impact Fee Distribution To $243.8 Million
-- TribLive Editorial: Latest Examples Of Efforts To Narrow Public Discourse Should Be Opposed
-- Natural Resources Defense Council Blog: President Wants PJM To Give The Gas Industry A Multibillion Gift To Supply Power To A.I. Data Centers In Upcoming Power Auction - By Tom Rutigliano
-- The Center Square: PA’s Energy Future A Defining Issue In Gubernatorial Race
-- The Guardian: How The Fight Over US A.I. Data Centers Is Scrambling Pennsylvania’s Politics: ‘We Don’t Want It’
-- PennLive: As PA Data Center Development Surges, PA House Fast-Tracks Bills To Address It [Not Senate]
-- The Center Square: Republican Senators Ward, Yaw Say State Losing Out Because Of Shapiro-Backed Price Caps On Electricity Prices [But Yaw Asked FERC In March To Require PJM To Keep Charging PA Ratepayers The Same Record High Rates ]
-- Institute For Energy Economics & Financial Analysis: Pennsylvania’s Shrinking Fossil Fuel Footprint Leaves A Widening Fiscal Gap To Support Tax Credits For Fossil Fuel Industry
-- Utility Dive: US EIA: Natural Gas Generation Down 60% From 2024 On Same Capacity In California As Cheaper Solar, Power Imports Surge
[Posted: June 16, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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