PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP - Day 41: Remediation, Collection Of Contaminated Water Continues At Loan Asset Issuer Shale Gas Water Pipeline Release Site In Washington County

On August 18, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection conducted a compliance evaluation of efforts by Loan Asset Issuer LLC Series 2021 NG-1 shale gas contaminated water pipeline site in West Finley Township, Washington County and found continuing failure of the owner to comply with a July 15, 2026 cleanup order.

Specially said the owner “failed to comply with the following corrective action required or activity to be ceased: Immediately prevent migration of the pollutional substance or waste from the site of the spill or release and immediately prevent the pollutional substance or waste from reaching or impacting surface water or groundwater.”

On July 8, 2026 DEP was notified of the release of contaminated water from an underground shale gas water pipeline later estimated to be up to 88,410 gallons near shale gas well pad WFN-6.

The initial cause of the release reported by the company was the failure of equipment in a cement vault that was part of a pipeline system owned by Loan Asset Issuer.

The pipeline transfers contaminated water from six shale gas well pads in Pennsylvania to an aboveground storage structure at a collection facility in West Virginia once or twice a week.

The August 18 inspection report said excavation of contaminated soil continued and was being staged within secondary containment.

A series of new cofferdams has been constructed below a new access road to catch contaminated water from a sweep with elevated levels of conductivity.

Cofferdams and collection tanks for contaminated water have also been constructed and located in and along two small streams impacted by the release.

Field measurements continued to show areas of contamination along the path of the release.

DEP continued the violation for failure to comply with the cleanup order.

Click Here for a copy of the inspection report + photos.

Since PA Environment Digest last reported on DEP’s August 3, 2026 inspection, DEP did follow-up inspections at the site on August 5, 2026, August 7, 2026 and August 11, 2026 documenting continuing cleanup efforts.

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- One of several cofferdams to collect contaminated water; Contaminated tributary to Robinson For; Excavation of contaminated soil near point of release; Row 2- Excavation of contaminated soil along the flow path; Field measurement document remaining contamination; More excavation along flow path.)

[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.]

Resource Links:

-- DEP - Day 47: Equitrans Water SVC [EQT] Remediation Of Richter Shale Gas Water Impoundment Release Appears To Be At A Stand Still In Greene County [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 33: Equitrans Water SVC [EQT] Fails To Comply With Order To Prevent Migration Of Contaminated Water Release Offsite At Richter Shale Gas Water Impoundment In Greene County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Equitrans Water SVC Reports Wastewater Release From Pipeline Connected To Richter Shale Gas Water Impoundment During Reclamation In Aleppo Twp., Greene County; Drainage Pipes Held Together By Duct Tape [PaEN]

-- DEP: Equitrans Water SVC LLC [EQT] Suffers Another Contaminated Water Release From Buried Shale Gas Wastewater Pipeline In Aleppo Twp., Greene County [PaEN]

Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Snapshot:

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper: DEP Considering ‘Alternative Enforcement Measures’ To Assure Cleanup Of Eureka Resources Oil & Gas Wastewater Treatment Plants In Lycoming, Bradford Counties [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 62: Contaminated Water Releases, Polluted Soil At Multiple Locations At Equitrans Water SVC [EQT] Richter Shale Gas Water Impoundment; Little Cleanup Happening In Greene County [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 41: Remediation, Collection Of Contaminated Water Continues At Loan Asset Issuer Shale Gas Water Pipeline Release Site In Washington County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Diversified Production LLC Contaminated Water Pipeline Release Pollutes Farm Field In Indiana County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Routine Inspection Finds ‘Significant’ Release Of Contaminated Water From Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Pollutes Hillside In Warren County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Iron Cumberland LLC Conventional Well Plugging Results On Subsurface Release Of Cement Into Hargus Creek In Greene County [PaEN]