Follow these links to spreadsheets showing the violations and inspections occurring between July 4 to 10--
Click Here for violations issued. Click Here for inspection entries.
[Note: There were many more violations issued by DEP than PA Environment Digest can highlight here.]
Enforcement Actions Taken Last Week
So far this year, DEP took these actions as of July 3--
-- NOVs Issued In Last Week: 7 conventional, 1 unconventional
-- Year To Date - NOVs Issued: 2,954 conventional and 600 unconventional
-- Enforcements 2025: 262 conventional and 104 unconventional (orders, agreements)
-- Inspections Last Week: 205 conventional and 413 unconventional
-- Year To Date - Inspections: 10,422 conventional and 13,728 unconventional
4,200 Gallon Spill Of Contaminated Shale Gas Water
On July 7, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection inspected the Sculptor shale gas well pad in Allegheny Township, Butler County in response to a spill notification by Lola Energy Petroco LLC.
Lola Energy reported approximately 4,200 gallons of contaminated water was released into containment around storage tanks.
Lola said “the cause of the release was a schedule 40 90° fitting had rotted out after years of contact with the brine [contaminated water]. Lola representatives replaced the faulty fitting and conducted a mechanical assessment of all other fittings on [the] pad.” Read more here.
Day 15 Of Cleaning Up Spills At Shale Gas Water Impoundment
A July 2, 2026 follow-up inspection of the Equitrans Water SVC (PA) C [EQT] Richter Shale Gas Water Impoundment spill site found contaminated water continues to leak from pipes cut during restoration at the site in Aleppo Township, Greene County.
Remediation was ongoing at the former pipeline vault location where contaminated fluid was still accumulating from the pipes cut during the original incident. Read more here.
Day 270 Cleaning Up Contaminated Water Spill From Conventional Wells
On June 29, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection did a follow-up inspection of the Petro Erie, Inc. Lower Reno 1 conventional well site in Sugarcreek Borough, Venango County and found two newly installed tanks storing contaminated water from several wells were leaking fluid from valves into secondary containment.
DEP noted the secondary containment was not yet completed at the time of the inspection.
DEP issued no violations, but said in the report it “will continue to monitor Operator progress on this site and ensure necessary repairs are completed.”
These actions arise from an Oct. 2, 2025 spill on this site from the previous storage tanks.
Another release from facilities owned by this same conventional well owner in the same area contaminated a spring serving as a water supply for the Village of Reno setting off a series of events that have not yet been resolved. Read more here.
Day 484 Of Not Cleaning Up Conventional Well Spills, No Owner Response
On June 26, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection did a follow-up inspection of the Oil & Gas MGMT, Inc. Mary Kunkle 5 conventional well in Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County and found no action had been taken to finish the cleanup of spills at the site or respond to violations issued since the original violations on Feb. 27, 2025-- 484 days.
The only action taken by the owner, according to DEP inspection photos, was to move the storage tank for contaminated water from the well from where it was leaking a few feet. The areas of contamination remain. Read more here.
1 Abandoned Conventional Well
McKean County - Pecora Enterprises [893 Days]
July 6, 2026 inspection of the Jack 16 conventional well in Bradford Township found the well was still abandoned and not plugged. Original violation issued Jan. 25, 2024. Efforts to plug the well in the spring of 2024 were not successful after encountering an obstruction. The matter will be referred for further enforcement. Another violation issued on Aug. 6, 2025 continued in this inspection. Copy of DEP inspection report sent to owner.
314 Violations For Conventional Abandoned Well Violations In 2026
So far in 2026, DEP issued or continued 314 notices of violation for conventional oil and gas well abandonment.
Federal Conventional Well Plugging Program
96 - Abandoned Well Inspections
DEP inspected 96 abandoned conventional wells in Allegheny, Butler, Clarion, Elk, Erie, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Warren, Washington counties to monitor ongoing plugging operations and evaluate the wells for future plugging.
18 - Unknown Owner Inspections
DEP inspected 18 conventional oil and gas wells with Unknown Owners in Allegheny, Butler, Erie, McKean, Potter, Warren, Washington counties and found them abandoned and not plugged.
Conventional Well Contaminated Water, Gas Leaks
Crawford County - Ows Energy LLC
July 7, 2026 inspection of the RD Gourley 1 conventional well in Rockdale Township found the well leaking gas around the wellhead. This site was never inspected. Multiple violations issued and the inspection report was sent to the well owner.
Crawford County - Ows Energy LLC
July 8, 2026 inspection of the Wilson 1 conventional well in Oil Creek Township found a contaminated water storage tank was leaking fluid out of a tank valve. Multiple violations issued and the inspection report was sent to the well owner.
Failed Shale Gas Casing/Cementing
Wyoming County - Expand Operating LLC [2,234 Days]
July 2, 2026 inspection of the Cappucci shale gas well pad well 4H and well 102H in Mehoopany Township as part of routine monitoring of casing/cementing failures found the continued presence of gas after a pressure test. Original violations issued on May 21, 2020, including failure to notify DEP, are continued. No further response requested.
Bradford County - Expand Operating LLC [644 Days]
July 2, 2026 inspection of the A&M shale gas well pad well 104HC in Wilmot Township as part of routine monitoring of casing/cementing failures found the continued presence of gas. Original violations issued on September 26, 2024, including failure to notify DEP, are continued. No further response requested.
Failed To Restore Conventional Well Site
Westmoreland County - PA Mineral SVCS LLC [216 Days]
July 1, 2026 inspection of the Ackerman 2 conventional well site in Derry Township found the owner failed to restore the site after the well was plugged on Feb. 27, 2025 as required by a Sept. 12, 2022 Consent Order with the owner. The site should have been restored no later than Nov. 27, 2025. The owner was present at the inspection. The April 9, 2026 violation issued for not complying with the Order is continued. The owner was advised to restore the site and submit a Post Plugging Well Site Restoration Report. DEP compliance evaluation.
Failure To Restore Shale Gas Well Pad
Fayette County - M4 Energy LLC [1,657 Days]
June 30, 2026 compliance evaluation of the MAWC 7020 shale gas well pad restoration in Springfield Township found the owner has made progress in pad restoration but has failed to fully comply with a Dec. 16, 2021 order to restore the pad by Oct. 30, 2025. A representative of the company was present during the inspection. DEP explained which areas of the well pad did not conform to the restoration plan. Violations for failing to comply with the Dec. 16, 2021 order are continued. DEP inspection report.
Failure Of Shale Gas Erosion Control Measures
Washington County - Equitrans Water SVC (PA) LLC
July 7, 2026 inspection of the Jaybird Water Impoundment reclamation site in Somerset Township prompted by a notification of the failure of erosion control measures after a storm event found sediment had overtopped and bypassed filter socks and traveled off the permitted area and down a roadside channel. The owner said areas would be remediated “promptly.” Violations issued. Response requested by July 24. 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.
[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 - July 4 to 10: 4,200 Gallon Contaminated Water Spill; Cleaning Up Spills For 15 Days, 270 Days, 484 Days And Counting [PaEN]
-- DEP: Lola Energy Petroco Reported 4,200 Gallon Spill Caused By Contaminated Water Eating Thru A Pipe Fitting At Shale Gas Well Pad In Allegheny Twp., Butler County [PaEN]
-- DEP - Day 15: Contaminated Water Continues To Leak From Pipes Cut During Restoration At Equitrans Water SVC Richter Shale Gas Water Impoundment In Greene County [PaEN]
-- DEP - Day 270: Petro Erie Inc. Experiences Leaks From Refurbished Contaminated Water Storage Tanks At Conventional Well Site In Venango County After October 2025 Spill [PaEN]
-- DEP - Day 484: Oil & Gas MGMT Inc. Took No Actions To Finish The Cleanup Of Conventional Well Spills Or Respond To DEP Violations In Westmoreland County [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - July 11 [PaEN]
-- DEP Issues Final Water Quality Permits For The Eastern Gas Transmission and Storage Appalachian Reliability Natural Gas Pipeline Project In Armstrong, Greene and Westmoreland Counties [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On A Chapter 105 Permit For A Seneca Resources Co 16-Inch Shale Gas Water Pipeline Running Through Farmington & Chatham Townships, Tioga County [PaEN]
-- Energy Transfer Asks PUC To Dissolve Sunoco Pipeline Company And Transfer Assets To 2 New Companies-- One For Natural Gas Liquids Pipelines Like Mariner East Pipelines And Another For Refined Petroleum Product Pipelines [PaEN]
-- DEP published notice in the July 11 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a Mothball Plan notification received from PEI Power, LLC concerning a Title V Air Quality Permit for two landfill gas fired turbines in Archbald Boro, Lackawanna County. (PA Bulletin, Page 4180)
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Hearing July 30 On Water Withdrawal Requests, Including 2 Related To Shale Gas Development [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 63 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In July 11 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
-- DEP Restarts Comment Period On Corrected Major Amendment To Homer City Generation Data Center Project Industrial Wastewater Facility Permit In Indiana County [PaEN]
-- DEP To Hold Aug. 4 Hearing On Major Modification To Waste Permit For Blythe Recycling & Demolition Waste Site Landfill In Schuylkill County [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- State Dept. Of Health Environmental Health Indicators Map Is Now Available To Show Potential Health Risks Near You, Including Oil & Gas Facilities & How To File A Report On A Health Concern [PaEN]
-- Delaware RiverKeeper Alert: Amendment In Congress Would Strip Delaware River Basin Commission Of Its Authority To Enforce The Ban On Oil & Gas Fracking In Delaware Watershed [PaEN]
-- FracTracker Alliance, Halt The Harm Network Now Accepting Nominations For 2026 Community Sentinel Award [PaEN]
-- Protect PT, Partners To Host July 23 Webinar On Landfill Leachate Radiation Hazards From Oil & Gas Waste [PaEN]
-- PA House Republican Proposes Bill To Strip Citizens Of The Right To Request A Suspension Of A DEP Permit To Prevent Irreparable Harm From Occurring While An Appeal Is Heard Before The Environmental Hearing Board [PaEN]
-- Guest Essay: Weighing The Pros And Cons Of KeyState Energy’s Natural Gas-Based Fertilizer Plant In Karthaus Twp., Clearfield County - By Ben Hoffman, Farmer, Karthaus Township [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- WHYY - Zoe Read: Nicetown Residents In Philly Want Answers After PUC Finds Philadelphia Gas Works Not Responsible For Deadly Natural Gas Explosion
-- Ohio River Valley Institute: Shell Petrochemical Plant Promised On Economic Renaissance, Beaver County Is Still Falling Behind
-- PennLive Guest Essay: PA Lawmakers Shouldn’t Overturn PA Supreme Court Decision Restoring Oil & Gas Property Rights To Their Rightful Owners - By Sherman Powell, Member Of Proctor Family Who Regained Their Property Unlawfully Taken
-- KDKA: Allegheny County DA Investigating 35 Cases Of Deed Fraud, Deeds Transferred To An LLC Without Homeowners’ Knowledge [Also Happens With Oil & Gas Property Rights]
[Posted: July 11, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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