PA Environment Digest Blog

Friday, August 14, 2026

DEP: Trinity Mineral Partners Report Release Of Contaminated Water From Conventional Oil & Gas Wells From A 44,100 Gallon Battery Of 5 Storage Tanks In Warren County; Inspection Of 2nd Trinity Spill Site Shows No Cleanup Progress

On August 12, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection reported Trinity Mineral Partners LLC notified the agency of a release of an unknown quantity of contaminated water from conventional oil and gas wells at the Brown Hill Road Storage Tank Battery of five tanks with a total capacity of 44,100 gallons in Sugar Grove Township, Warren County. DEP inspection report.

A DEP inspection of a second Trinity Mineral Partners spill site the same day in Sugar Grove Township at the Akins Lease Akins 1 conventional well found no progress in cleaning up a spill there discovered on June 8, 2026. DEP inspection report.

Brown Hill Tank Battery

Trinity Mineral Partners reported that “lightning from recent thunderstorms must have struck the tanks, ignited combustible contents, and caused an explosion that expanded and ruptured four out of the five tanks.

“The released fluid flowed through the ruptures and into the secondary containment area.

“It was reported that at the time of the release, the stock tanks were mostly empty but did contain some sludge from prior storage of produced fluids.”

Trinity said an estimated 168 gallons of contaminated water was released, however, the DEP inspection found the release was large enough to rise above and over secondary containment and spill downslope from the tanks into a pipe storage area and into two groundhog holes.

Field conductivity measurements confirmed the flow path.

Violations were issued and a response requested by Aug. 28. DEP inspection report.

[Note: An online search for fire company response calls in Warren County in July and August found none involving oil or gas well-related storage tanks, including the local Sugar Grove Township Volunteer Fire Company.

[Please send reports/photos of this fire to: paenvirodigest@gmail.com. ]

Akins 1 Conventional Well Site

A DEP follow-up inspection on August 12, 2026 of the Akins Lease Akins 1 conventional well site found no action had been taken to remediate the release of contaminated water at that site discovered on June 8, 2026 in Sugar Grove Township. Read more here.

Violations were continued, no specific action requested of owner. DEP inspection report.

Two Other Spill Sites

DEP also recently inspected two other Trinity Mineral Partners LLC spill sites in Warren County--

-- June 8, 2026: The Loomis Lease Loomis 4 well site with two contaminated groundwater storage tanks, inspectors found “evidence of a concentrated flow of fluids was observed just beyond the secondary containment diking” in Sugar Grove Township.

“Bare soils outside of containment were observed to have been eroded in a manner consistent with the channelized flow of a large volume of fluid.”

“The total observed path of stressed/dead vegetation and elevated conductivity readings was approximately 750 feet in length and up to 30 feet in width.” Read more here.

-- June 15, 2026: A routine inspection of the Trinity Mineral Partners LLC Conklin Lease C1 conventional oil and gas well site in Brokenstraw Township, Warren County found evidence of a significant release of contaminated groundwater around aboveground and buried storage tanks. Read more here.

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: Release flowing down from ruptured tanks; Dead vegetation and field conductivity tests document flow path; Dead trees further down the hill.)

[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.]

DEP Nucomer Energy LLC Making Progress Reclaiming Shale Gas Water Impoundment In Forest County Nearly 14 Years After It Was No Longer In Use, 981 Days After A DEP Order Requiring Restoration

On August 13, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection met with representatives from Nucomer Energy LLC on work completed and the work remaining to be done to complete the reclamation of the DR02 shale gas well pad and water impoundment in Hickory Township, Forest County. DEP inspection report.

The meeting follows July 9, 2026 and July 29, 2026 DEP inspections showing progress was being made in restoring the well pad and water impoundment site 981 days after DEP ordered the site restored and nearly 14 years after the impoundment was no longer being used.

Both reports were very brief and issued and continued violations related to the failure to implement and maintain adequate erosion and sedimentation controls at the site issued on April 8, 2026 and again on July 9, 2026.

A DEP inspection on April 9, 2026 reported by PA Environment Digest found numerous, serious erosion and sedimentation violations as well as the failure to restore the sites, while noting DEP issued a second order on March 17, 2025 requiring the restoration of the sites.

No specific follow-up was required of the owner in the August 13 DEP inspection report as a result of the meeting.

Background

An April 27, 2022 DEP inspection report said the last well on the pad was completed in September 2012 and violations were issued on that date for failing to restore the well pad and related impoundment nine months after the last well was fracked as DEP regulations require.

DEP also issued violations for spills from wastewater storage tanks and failure to submit monthly production reports in that same inspection report.

Faced with no action by the well owner, DEP issued an administrative order to Nucomer Energy on December 6, 2023 requiring the well owner to restore the well site and impoundment and address other violations. DEP Dec. 11, 2024 inspection report

During a May 1, 2024 inspection, DEP found Nucomer had addressed only one of the requirements in the order-- “violations associated with the deficient secondary containment liner.”

On December 11, 2024, DEP did a follow-up inspection and found Nucomer had failed to comply with the December 6, 2023 order requiring the restoration of the well site and impoundment.

“The Impoundment remains filled with water. There is no earth moving equipment on site. There has been no observable attempt made to restore the Well Site or the Well Development Impoundment prior to this inspection.”

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: Earthmoving on top of spoil pile; View toward the well pad; Spreading topsoil; Original site layout.)

[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.]

Thursday, August 13, 2026

DEP - Day 632: Seneca Resources Installs Trench, Concrete Catch Basin To Collect Continuing Releases Of Contaminated Water From The Taft Shale Gas Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County

On July 17, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection did an inspection of the Seneca Resources Taft shale gas well pad in response to a notification that additional measures were installed to collect and allow for cleanup of contaminated water coming from the pad in Middlebury Township, Tioga County.

DEP observed a trench had been recently dug along the north side of the pad with contaminated water flowing into a new cement catch basin.

Conductivity field measurements of liquid in the trench indicated contaminated water.

A vac truck was staged on site with a hose end located in the catch basin to remove the accumulating liquids.

No liquids were flowing into the sediment basin at the pad, but field conductivity measurements at the northeast overflow indicated contaminated water and DEP collected a sample of the water.

"The DEP recommends that Seneca continues to monitor the conditions on the pad surface and the sediment basin and remove elevated conductance fluids and soils as discovered. Prevent elevated conductance fluids from leaving the facility and causing pollution to the waters of the Commonwealth."

These violations have now been continued for 632 days.

DEP did not request a written follow-up from Seneca.

Click Here for DEP inspection results + photos.

Original Incident

Violations for the wastewater releases at the Taft site were originally issued on October 23, 2024.

DEP found similar conditions-- spills, crews trying to clean up the pad while drilling and fracking new shale gas wells continues-- starting October 23, 2024, then on July 11, 2025, August 21, 2025, October 2, 2025, October 31, 2025, December 23, 2025, January 21, 2026, April 21, 2026 and June 23, 2026.

Casing/Cementing Failure

A July 27, 2026 inspection of the 75HU Utica shale gas well at this same Taft shale gas well pad found evidence of continuing casing/cementing failure originally discovered on Nov. 13, 2024.

The violation was continued and so will the monitoring.

DEP inspection report.

Criminal Charges

On October 31, 2025, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced criminal charges against Seneca Resources, LLC, following multiple violations of Pennsylvania’s environmental protection laws in several counties, as recommended by the 48th and 51st Statewide Investigating Grand Juries.

Three separate criminal complaints were filed regarding the natural gas company’s violations related to improper waste management practices and policies.

Prominent in the Attorney General’s announcement of the charges was the fact that DEP repeatedly warned Seneca that their practices were not in line with Pennsylvania law, but those warnings were ignored or disputed. Read more here.

In all, Seneca is charged with 64 counts of violations of the Solid Waste Management Act and 36 counts of violations of the Clean Streams Law in Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga Counties. Read more here.

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-- Cement catch basin; new contaminated water collection trench; Row 2-- New trench; Taking water sample at sediment basin overflow; Field conductivity test in sediment basin.)

[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 - Seneca Resources:

-- Attorney General Sunday: Criminal Charges Filed Against Seneca Resources For 64 Counts Of Illegal Dumping Of Shale Gas Waste In Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga Counties [PaEN]

-- No One Warned A Cameron County Family Their Water Well Was Contaminated By A Seneca Resources Shale Gas Wastewater Pipeline Rupture [PaEN]

-- DEP - Day 632: Seneca Resources Installs Trench, Concrete Catch Basin To Collect Continuing Releases Of Contaminated Water From The Taft Shale Gas Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County [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: Day 587 And Counting: Seneca Resources Continues To Release Wastewater, Frack New Shale Gas Wells At Taft Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Day 545 And Counting: Seneca Resources Continues To Release Wastewater, Frack New Shale Gas Wells At Taft Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Seneca Resources Still Experiencing Spills, Releases While New Well Development Continues At Taft Shale Gas Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County For 426 Days And Counting [PaEN]

-- DEP: Spills, Releases Continue At Seneca Resources Taft Shale Gas Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County For 373 Days And Counting [PaEN]

-- DEP Day 239: Seneca Resources Wastewater Cleanup, Monitoring Efforts Continue At Vandergrift Shale Gas Well Pad In Charleston Twp., Tioga County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Day 155 - Contaminated Water Still Flowing From Seneca Resources Vandergrift Shale Gas Wells, Well Pad; Cleanup Continues In Charleston Twp., Tioga County [PaEN]

-- DEP: Seneca Resources Ignores NOVs On DCNR Shale Gas Well Pad Cleanup For 7 Months & Counting; Citizen Complaint Finds Homeowner Well Venting Gas; Multiple Tanker Truck Spills [PaEN]