Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 34 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In May; 167 In 2026

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission published notice in the June 27 PA Bulletin the Executive Director gave his approval to or renewed 34 general water use permits in May for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Clinton, Lycoming, McKean, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming counties.

So far in 2026, SRBC issued 167 shale gas-related general permits.

A separate water withdrawal approval is required by SRBC for actually withdrawing water from a specific water source for use by shale gas drilling operations.  Read more here.

New/Renewed General Permits

Here is the list of new general permits renewed or issued in May--

-- MODIFICATION—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: ConboyT P1; ABR-202312002.1; Middletown Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 6.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 11, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—BKV Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Baker West (Brothers); ABR-201103049.R3; Forest Lake Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: May 11, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: LymanJ P1; ABR-201104018.R3; Springville Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: May 11, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Noble Drilling Pad # 1; ABR-201104015.R3; Lathrop Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 11, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: PU-CC Valentine-Price Pad; ABR-201104019.R3; Lenox Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 11, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Pennsylvania General Energy Company, LLC; Pad ID: Reed Run Norwich Pad D; ABR-201012028.R3; Liberty & Norwich Townships, McKean County; Consumptive Use of Up to 3.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 11, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—XTO Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: Renn Unit A; ABR-201103033.R3; Jordan Township, Lycoming County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.0000 mgd; Approval Date: May 11, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Coterra Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: GeigerK P1; ABR-202105001.R1; Bridgewater Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 5.0000 mgd; Approval Date: May 20, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Broughton; ABR-201012001.R3; Morris Township, Tioga County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 20, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Crain; ABR-201104028.R3; Rome Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 20, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Fausto; ABR-201101015.R3; Litchfield Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 20, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Franclaire; ABR-201012011.R3; Braintrim Township, Wyoming County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 20, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Kingsley; ABR-201104029.R3; Smithfield Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 20, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Martino Drilling Pad # 1; ABR-201604001.R2; Albany Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 20, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Pennsylvania General Energy Company, LLC; Pad ID: COP Tract 293 Pad F; ABR-201105001.R3; Cummings Township, Lycoming County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 3.0000 mgd; Approval Date: May 20, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—XTO Energy, Inc.; Pad ID: PA Tract B1H; ABR-201104023.R3; Chapman Township, Clinton County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 4.0000 mgd; Approval Date: May 20, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Hi-Lev; ABR-201103051.R3; Troy Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 24, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Hulslander; ABR-201104021.R3; Smithfield Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 24, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Jones Pad; ABR-201103022.R3; Standing Stone Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 24, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Kerrick Drilling Pad # 1; ABR-201103040.R3; Asylum Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 24, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Moody; ABR-201104027.R3; Springfield Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 24, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Sarah; ABR-201103041.R3; Athens Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 24, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Shoemaker-Saxe; ABR-202103004.R1; Colley Township, Sullivan County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 24, 2026.

-- Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: JANNEY BRA PAD; ABR-202605002; Monroe Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 26, 2026.

-- Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: SGL-12 G UNIT PAD; ABR-202605003; Canton Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 26, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Curtin Drilling Pad # 1; ABR-201012034.R3; Albany and Cherry Townships, Bradford and Sullivan Counties, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 26, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: MPC New; ABR-201104030.R3; Cherry Township, Sullivan County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 28, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: PMG Annie Drilling Pad # 1; ABR-201103015.R3; Springville Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 28, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Stempel; ABR-201104020.R3; Asylum Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 28, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Taylor Drilling Pad # 1; ABR-201104024.R3; Lenox Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 28, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—EXCO Resources (PA), LLC; Pad ID: Doebler Drilling Pad # 1; ABR-201012033.R3; Penn Township, Lycoming County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 8.0000 mgd; Approval Date: May 29, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Lomison, Inc.; ABR-201105023.R3; Burlington Township, Bradford County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 29, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: LRJ; ABR-201105011.R3; Rush Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 29, 2026.

-- RENEWAL—Expand Operating, LLC; Pad ID: Price Pad; ABR-201104017.R3; Lenox Township, Susquehanna County, PA; Consumptive Use of Up to 7.5000 mgd; Approval Date: May 29, 2026.

Expanded Application Info Available

Information available on pending and issued water withdrawals is available on SRBC’s Water Application and Approval Viewer webpage.

The Commission expanded the information available on general and other permits, noting any opportunities to comment and more.

For more information on programs, training opportunities and upcoming events, visit the Susquehanna River Basin Commission website.  Click Here to sign up for SRBC’s newsletter.   Follow SRBC on Twitter, visit them on YouTube.

(Photos: Impacts of constructing PA General Energy  Shawnee water withdrawal and pipeline crossing to Exceptional Value Loyalsock Creek.)

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]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 34 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In May; 167 In 2026  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Aug. 26 Webinar On Radioactive Radium And Salinity In Groundwater And How It Affects Drinking Water; Featured Speaker Has Researched Contaminated Groundwater From Oil & Gas Development  [PaEN] 

-- PUC PaOneCall Damage Prevention Committee Announces $144,250 In Penalties For Underground Utility Violations   

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 26, 2026]  PA Environment Digest