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:
-- PennLive: Attorney General Sunday Files Criminal Charges Against Eureka Resources For Oil & Gas Wastewater Leaks From Its Now Closed Standing Stone Facility In Wysox Twp., Bradford County [PaEN]
-- DEP Investigation Finds CNX Gas Company LLC Shale Gas Facilities Caused The ‘Diminution’ Of 2 Private Water Supplies In Bell Twp., Westmoreland 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 Inspection Finds Continued Failure To Comply With E&S, Stream, Wetland Crossing Permit Requirements At Expand Operating Shale Gas Water Pipeline Construction Site In Bradford County [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - June 13 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 50 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In June 13 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- PUC Sets Aug. 19 Telephonic Prehearing On The Transource 230 kV Transmission Line In Franklin County Connecting To A Maryland Substation [PaEN]
-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - June 15 [PaEN]
Related Articles Last Week:
-- FracTracker Alliance Appeals DEP Conventional Oil & Gas Mineral Brine Well Permit Due To Concerns The Permit Creates A New Loophole For Disposing Of Contaminated Groundwater Without Testing Or Restrictions On Its Use [PaEN]
-- House Committee Moves Bills To Prohibit Road Dumping Contaminated Groundwater Released By Conventional Oil & Gas Well Drilling; Setting Minimum Standards For Power Plant Community Benefit Agreements; Encouraging Native Insect Habitats [PaEN]
-- DEP Marks Plugging 400th Conventional Oil & Gas Well Abandoned By Its Owner Under A Taxpayer Funded Program [PaEN]
-- State Budget Brief: DEP Oil & Gas Program Enforcement & Permitting Staff Has Been Frozen For Last 10 Years, Meanwhile Drilled Shale Gas Wells Increased By Nearly 50% [PaEN]
-- Independent Fiscal Office Estimates 2025 Act 13 Drilling Impact Fee To Yield $243.9 Million, $79.3 Million More Than In 2024 [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- DEP Finds Large Releases Of Contaminated Groundwater From Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Killed Vegetation, Soaked Soil, Polluted Roadside Ditches In Warren County [PaEN]
-- PUC Announced Distribution Of $243.8 Million In Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fees For PA Communities, State Environmental, Other Programs [PaEN]
[Posted: June 16, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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