The violations for failure to construct secondary containment around multiple contaminated water tanks and lack of an emergency response plan were first issued on Jan. 3, 2023.
This vertical shale gas well-- drilled in April 2005-- has a compliance history littered with violations, including for failure to submit production, waste and well integrity reports since 2014 and well abandonment.
On Sept. 23, 2020, DEP issued multiple violations to Mieka LLC-- the then owner of the well-- for failing to submit production, waste and well integrity reports.
On Feb. 15, 2022, DEP issued a violation to Mieka LLC for abandoning and not plugging the well.
On Oct. 3, 2022, DEP issued multiple violations to Mieka LLC for spills on the site from deteriorated contaminated water tanks and failure to construct secondary containment that have been continued since then.
Both Mieka LLC and Big Dog Energy LLC failed to respond in any way to violations issued by DEP or address the spills on the site since at least the 2020 violations, DEP said in its inspection reports.
Finally, in an email on April 2, 2026, Big Dog Energy responded to the recurring violations issued on March 27, 2026 saying they sold the well to Murphy Production in 2024-- but apparently had not filed the required transfer request with DEP.
Big Dog Energy said-- “in regards to the spill there was none” (in spite of DEP photos and field testing in DEP’s inspection report)-- adding they would put up another sign at the site and put an emergency response plan at the pad so the well can be transferred to Murphy.
DEP continued the violations for the spills, failure to have an emergency response plan and for not constructing secondary containment in its August 26, 2026 inspection report.
DEP also said the April 2, 2026 email was not considered a response to the violations issued.
DEP sent the inspection report to Big Dog Energy, but checked the box on the form that says-- “No further response required at this time.”
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: Well site in January 2023, Well site on Aug. 26, 2026.)
[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:
NewsClips:
-- Pittsburgh Business Times: NextEra Energy Picks 700 Acre Site In Luzerne Twp., Fayette County For 3.75 GW Natural Gas Data Center Power Plant Complex [Entire Township Over Known Mined Out Coal Mines Subject To Subsidence Risk (DEP)]
-- PennLive/Tribune News: Massive 7,200 Acre PPL Utilities Joint Venture Land Deal In Lackawanna County Paves Way For More Natural Gas Data Center Power Plants
-- Scranton Times: PPL Utilities Joint Venture Purchases 500 Acres In Luzerne County For 2 Natural Gas Data Center Power Plants; No Agreements Signed With Customers Yet [Not For The Public]
-- Financial Times: The Missing Piece Of The US Oil And Gas Boom - Jobs; Production And Profits Are Rising Strongly, Employment Has Fallen
[Posted: September 1, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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