On June 8, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection did routine inspections of two other conventional oil and gas wells owned by Trinity Mineral Partners, LLC and found large contaminated groundwater releases from the wells had killed vegetation, soaked into soil and polluted road ditches at both sites in Sugar Grove Township, Warren County. Read more here.
“A discharge of production fluids [contaminated groundwater] is evident at the Conklin Lease tank battery. Mature trees at the southwest corner of the secondary containment area are either heavily stressed or dead.
“A brine [contaminated groundwater] tank is buried within the secondary containment area. PVC lines connect the drain valves of the stock tanks in containment to cutout holes in the surface of the brine tank.
“Evidence of previous fluid releases in the containment area are visible via crude oil staining and sawdust sprinkled over the oil-stained areas.”
“A pool of fluid was present in the southernmost end of the containment area, in what appeared to be a sump. At the time of this inspection, the fluid was observed to have elevated specific conductance....”
“A pool of fluid was present in the southernmost end of the containment area, in what appeared to be a sump.
“At the time of this inspection, the fluid was observed to have elevated specific conductance elevated specific conductance in excess of 4,000 uS/cm was observed in soils within the swale directly across from the tank battery.
“Crude oil staining was also observed in the swale near the tank battery.”
“The swale transitions to an UNT [unnamed tributary] to Irvine Run with defined bed and banks downslope of the tank battery.
“The water flowing in the UNT was found to have elevated specific conductance exceeding 13,000 uS/cm. Elevated specific conductance of water was observed throughout the stream at the time of this inspection.”
Multiple violations issued. Owner was requested to provide disposal receipts for the contaminated groundwater at the site.
Response requested by July 3. DEP inspection report.
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: Contaminated groundwater storage tanks; Measuring contamination at the tank site; Down the drainage swale; Into unnamed tributary of Irvine Run.)
[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.]
Related Articles This Week:
-- 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]
-- PUC Announced Distribution Of $243.8 Million In Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fees For PA Communities, State Environmental, Other Programs [PaEN]
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-- The Center Square: PA’s Energy Future A Defining Issue In Gubernatorial Race
-- 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
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[Posted: June 19, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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