DEP - Day 202: Ows Acquisition Co Conventional Well Site Still Discharging Contaminated Water In the City Of Hermitage, Mercer County

On September 23, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection did a follow-up inspection of the Ows Acquisition Co LLC Rose of Sharon Unit 1 conventional oil and gas well site in the City of Hermitage, Mercer County and found continuing discharges of contaminated water.

The original violations for the discharges were issued on March 5, 2026.

DEP reported contaminated water was “exiting” a containment basin on the hillside next to the well pad.  An absorbent boom was placed in the corner of the basin in an apparent attempt to absorb any water escaping.

Production equipment at the well site remains outside of secondary containment.

[There was no apparent remediation done at the site from the photos in the inspection report.]

DEP spoke with the well owner’s representative on the phone who said they are “still working on the clean-up report.”  A follow-up email said the owner would have a draft report ready the week of October 5.

Multiple violations were continued for the spills.

Click Here for the DEP inspection report + photos.

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-- Contaminated water containment basin; Attempt to absorb water exiting the basin; Row 2- Production equipment not in secondary containment.)

[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: Equipment Failure At Catalyst Energy Injection Well Results In Contaminated Water Discharges In Keating Twp., McKean County [PaEN] 

-- DEP - Day 202: Ows Acquisition Co Conventional Well Site Still Discharging Contaminated Water In the City Of Hermitage, Mercer County  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Pipeline Excavation Hits Conventional Oil & Gas Well Drill Cuttings Disposal Area At Eastern Gas Transmission Oakford Gas Storage Area In Westmoreland County  [PaEN] 

-- Marcellus Drilling News: 2 EQT Shale Gas Subsidiaries Lose Bid To Toss West Virginia Kids Health Lawsuit From Federal Court  [PaEN]

[Posted: September 30, 2026]  PA Environment Digest