DEP Finds Releases Of Contaminated Groundwater From Trinity Mineral Partners Conventional Oil & Gas Well Site In Brokenstraw Twp., Warren County, 3rd Site This Week

On 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.

On June 8, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection did routine inspections of two other conventional oil and gas wells owned by Trinity Mineral Partners, LLC and found large contaminated groundwater releases from the wells had killed vegetation, soaked into soil and polluted road ditches at both sites in Sugar Grove Township, Warren County.  Read more here.

“A discharge of production fluids [contaminated groundwater] is evident at the Conklin Lease tank battery. Mature trees at the southwest corner of the secondary containment area are either heavily stressed or dead. 

“A brine [contaminated groundwater] tank is buried within the secondary containment area. PVC lines connect the drain valves of the stock tanks in containment to cutout holes in the surface of the brine tank. 

“Evidence of previous fluid releases in the containment area are visible via crude oil staining and sawdust sprinkled over the oil-stained areas.”

“A pool of fluid was present in the southernmost end of the containment area, in what appeared to be a sump. At the time of this inspection, the fluid was observed to have elevated specific conductance....”

“A pool of fluid was present in the southernmost end of the containment area, in what appeared to be a sump. 

“At the time of this inspection, the fluid was observed to have elevated specific conductance elevated specific conductance in excess of 4,000 uS/cm was observed in soils within the swale directly across from the tank battery. 

“Crude oil staining was also observed in the swale near the tank battery.”

“The swale transitions to an UNT [unnamed tributary] to Irvine Run with defined bed and banks downslope of the tank battery. 

“The water flowing in the UNT was found to have elevated specific conductance exceeding 13,000 uS/cm. Elevated specific conductance of water was observed throughout the stream at the time of this inspection.”

Multiple violations issued.  Owner was requested to provide disposal receipts for the contaminated groundwater at the site.

Response requested by July 3.  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.

(Photos: Contaminated groundwater storage tanks; Measuring contamination at the tank site; Down the drainage swale; Into unnamed tributary of Irvine Run.)

[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 Finds Large Releases Of Contaminated Groundwater From 2 Trinity Mineral Partners Conventional Oil & Gas Well Sites In Sugar Grove Twp., Warren County; That’s 3 Spill Sites This Week  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Finds Releases Of Contaminated Groundwater From Trinity Mineral Partners Conventional Oil & Gas Well Site In Brokenstraw Twp., Warren County, 3rd Site This Week  [PaEN]

-- PUC Announced Distribution Of $243.8 Million In Act 13 Shale Gas Drilling Impact Fees For PA Communities, State Environmental, Other Programs [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- Rolling Stone/DeSmog - Justin Nobel: Her Son Died Of A Rare Bone Cancer, Could Unsecured Oil & Gas Equipment Waste Facility In Cecil Twp., Washington County Be To Blame?

-- ProPublicia: President Plans To Protect Methane-Leaking Conventional /Stripper Oil & Gas Wells, Hilcorp Oil & Gas Company Owner To Benefit  [Hilcorp Operates In PA] 

-- In Case You Were Wondering: Breathe Project Cams: ‘Emergency’ Flares Still Burning At MarkWest Harmon Creek, Energy Transfer Revolution Natural Gas Processing Plants In Washington County 6.17.26 

-- TribLive: New Shale Gas Wells, Higher Natural Gas Prices Raise State’s Drilling Impact Fee Distribution To $243.8 Million

-- The Center Square: PA’s Energy Future A Defining Issue In Gubernatorial Race

-- Institute For Energy Economics & Financial Analysis: Pennsylvania’s Shrinking Fossil Fuel Footprint Leaves A Widening Fiscal Gap To Support Tax Credits For Fossil Fuel Industry 

-- Utility Dive: US EIA: Natural Gas Generation Down 60% From 2024 On Same Capacity In California As Cheaper Solar, Power Imports Surge 

[Posted: June 19, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

Guest Essay: For America's 250th, Let's Return Power To The Town Square - The Right To Plan Our Future, Protect Our Backyards, Have A Seat At The Table

By David M. Sanko, PA State Association Of Township Supervisors

As we approach America’s Semiquicentennial, or 250th birthday, it is time to reflect on how this nation began. 

Our democracy was not born in a sterile state office building or a federal high-rise; it was born in town halls, in village squares, and in local meetings. 

It was built on the common-sense idea that the people who know a community best are the people who live in it.

Yet, as we head toward this historic 250th anniversary, that foundational principle is under fire. 

Across Pennsylvania, our municipalities are increasingly treated not as the partners they are, but as mere “subsidiaries” of the state. 

Decisions that once happened at the kitchen table or the township meeting are now being made by remote control from Harrisburg and Washington, D.C.

To honor our 250-year legacy, we must restore the balance. That is why we are launching the Pennsylvania Local Government Bill of Rights.

This initiative is our call to return to the roots of American self-governance. 

It is a common-sense declaration that the management of public business must be rooted in the unique landscape of our own communities. 

We are calling for a return to five fundamental rights:

-- The Right to Plan Our Future: Local decisions belong in local hands.

-- The Right to Protect Our Backyards: Zoning and land use are the heartbeat of a community; they should be directed by the neighbors who live there, not by “one-size-fits-all” statewide mandates.

-- The Right to Freedom from Unfunded Mandates: It’s time the state stopped sending local taxpayers the bill for policies they never ordered.

-- The Right to Modern Transparency: We are bringing the “Town Crier” into 2026. Transparency should be about accessibility, using the websites and social media our residents actually use, rather than forcing expensive, outdated print ads.

-- The Right to a Seat at the Table: True partnership requires listening. We are demanding that state agencies consult with local leaders before they adopt policies that fundamentally change our communities.

As we celebrate 250 years of American independence, we must remember that freedom is maintained only when government stays close to the people. 

When we strip local leaders of their authority, we move further away from the very democracy our Founders envisioned.

Common sense is making a comeback in Pennsylvania. 

By signing on to the Local Government Bill of Rights, we are saying “yes” to stronger communities, fairer rules for taxpayers, and a future where local voices are not just heard but also respected.

This Semiquicentennial, let’s do more than just celebrate our past. 

Let’s secure our future by empowering the level of government that has served Pennsylvania since our nation’s founding: local government, which is the true embodiment of a government “of the people, by the people, for the people.”Join us in standing up for local government and the residents we serve every day.

David M. Sanko is the executive director of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS).  

[Posted: June 18, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

PA Fibershed Seeks Next Generation Of Student Leaders For Ambassador Program, Applications Close June 30

As the fashion and textile industries face mounting environmental and economic challenges, Pennsylvania Fibershed is expanding its University Ambassador Program to additional campuses across Pennsylvania for the 2026-2027 academic year. 

The program arms students with the knowledge, leadership experience, and professional skills needed to shape a more regenerative future.

Applications for the 2026–2027 Ambassador cohort close on June 30, 2026.

Textile Waste

According to the PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center, Pennsylvanians alone send over 370,000 tons of textiles to landfills and incinerators each year, which is equivalent to over 50 pounds of clothing per PA resident. 

At the same time, the global fashion industry is responsible for an estimated 4–10% of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. 

Decades of outsourcing have also weakened regional manufacturing systems and disconnected consumers from the origins of their clothing.

The Program

PA Fibershed’s University Ambassador Program was created to help students better understand these challenges while actively participating in solutions rooted in regional collaboration, education, and community engagement.

The program brings together student leaders from Pennsylvania colleges and universities to explore issues surrounding textile waste, natural fibers, circular systems, and regional manufacturing. 

Through hands-on programming and mentorship, ambassadors gain practical experience in event planning, public engagement, nonprofit operations, and collaborative leadership.

“The PA Fibershed Student Ambassador Program has solidified my textile knowledge and the ability to teach others, helped me gain confidence when networking and understand the importance of documenting all events and their impact,” said 25-26 Jefferson Ambassador Maggie Robinson. “Since being with the program I have been able to host textile related workshops, informational events and connect students with industry professionals.”

During its inaugural 25-26 year, ambassadors from Drexel and Thomas Jefferson Universities contributed more than 170 outreach hours, planned and executed 10 educational and community events, and helped divert over 1,000 garments from landfill. 

Students who are passionate about sustainability, fashion, textiles, circularity, agriculture, nonprofit leadership, environmental advocacy, economic development or community engagement are encouraged to apply. 

View the 2025 Impact Report.

Click Here to watch a video about the program.

Click Here for more information and application details.

Pennsylvania Fibershed is a nonprofit organization working to build a regional fiber and textile system rooted in regenerative agriculture, local manufacturing, and community connection.

[Posted: June 18, 2026]  PA Environment Digest 

The EPIC Allegheny Odyssey - Paddling Thru 250 Years Of American History, 75 Miles Of The Allegheny River From Warren To Emlenton July 26 to Aug. 1

Registration is now open for the EPIC Allegheny Odyssey-- a six-day, 75 mile journey down the Allegheny River from Warren to Emlenton to celebrate the 250th years of American History from July 26 to August 1.

Beginning with a kickoff celebration in Warren, PA on Sunday, July 26, 2026, the paddling journey launches Monday, July 27, traveling through the Wild and Scenic Allegheny River corridor to Emlenton--  passing through welcoming communities, dramatic river landscapes, and living chapters of American history.

Participants will paddle 75 of the river’s 105 miles, allowing organizers to coordinate lodging and overnight accommodations along the route.

Led by the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism (ORA), the official manager of the Oil Region National Heritage Area, this expedition will leave a lasting legacy through powerful storytelling, a commemorative book, and the unforgettable experiences of all who participate.

Supported by a sojourn mini-grant from the PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers funded by DCNR.

Visit the EPIC Allegheny Odyssey website to register and for more information.

(Reprinted from the latest DCNR Grants News.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)

[Posted: June 18, 2026]  PA Environment Digest

Congressional Cuts To Abandoned Mine Reclamation Funding Means PA To Lose $169.4 Million, Largest Cut Of Any State, And Our Own PA Members Of Congress Voted For It; Can We Get It Back?

The Ohio River Valley Institute recently reported Congressional cuts to the federal Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program signed into law by the President in January mean mining states will lose over $500 million over the next 11 years of the program.

Pennsylvania, with the largest Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program, is set to lose the most by far-- $169,476,758 or $15,406,978 a year.

There are 5,670 miles of streams in Pennsylvania where the major cause of water quality impairment is abandoned mine drainage.  Read more here.

Combined with growing inflation, this means fewer jobs will be supported cleaning up mines and more hazardous coal mining damage won’t be reclaimed in Appalachia and across the country.

Congress passed the original Abandoned Mine Land funding in 2021 as part of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which provided $10.9 billion over 15 years for the program.

The Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation had this to say on Facebook  about the cuts--

"PA is going to see a huge reduction in funding for AMD and abandoned mine land reclamation projects due to these actions at the Federal level by Congress. 

"We tried to advocate to stop this from happening, but were unsuccessful unfortunately in keeping the funding from being repurposed. 

"Many groups across Appalachia and the West tried to speak up to prevent the cuts, but a number of our legislative leaders decided to vote the other way for reasons we remain baffled by. 

"Bobby Hughes [EPCAMR Executive Director] has in the past tried to get as much media attention as possible on this subject and action as well as having had reached out to PA legislators and became frustrated when these decisions were made."

Nathan Houtz, DEP Deputy Secretary For Active and Abandoned Mine Operations, told DEP’s Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board in January, “We've been talking with our senators and congressmen and their staff about, though this money disappeared, we'd like to see it come back.

“The best I could say is to keep those lines of communication open with the legislators in DC, that we'd like to see the money come back and we definitely don't want to see this be the opening of a door to take more money from IIJA (federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment Act).”

Visit DEP’s Abandoned Mine Reclamation webpage to learn more about this program.

Visit the PA Abandoned Mine Land Campaign website and the Our Work’s Not Done Abandoned Mine Lands website for more information.

(Photos: Little Conemaugh River before and after mine drainage treatment projects.)

Resource Links:

-- Congress Cut Abandoned Mine Reclamation Funding To PA By $169 Million Canceling Critical Water Quality Restoration Projects [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- Sewickley Creek Watershed Association Celebrates 35 Years Of Restoring Water Quality In Westmoreland County On Aug. 7  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Master Watershed Steward Ken Pledger's Enthusiasm For The Environment Takes Root In Projects In Adams, Cumberland Counties  [PaEN] 

-- PA Interfaith Power & Light Seeking Volunteers To Provide Peer-To-Peer Support To Congregations, Community Groups Looking To Plan Their First Or Next Tree Planting Project  [PaEN]  

-- Penn State Extension July 14 Webinar: Preview Of 2026 Watershed-Friendly Tree And Shrub Sale To Help You Choose Plants Confidently  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension July 15 Webinar On Private Water Supply Testing Packages Available From Penn State's Agricultural Analytical Services Lab  [PaEN]  

-- Penn State Extension: July 22 Webinar On Diagnosing Common Well Water Issues; August 19 Webinar On Choosing The Right Water Treatment Device  [PaEN]   

-- Save The Date: Penn State Ag Progress Days - August 11-13 

NewsClips:

-- The Allegheny Front: New LCT Energy Rustic Ridge Coal Mine Could Dump 2.8 Million Gallons Of Treated Wastewater Into Westmoreland County Trout Steam

-- TribLive Letter: Let’s Correct The Record, LCT Energy Does Have Violations At Its Rustic Ridge No. 1 Underground Coal Mine In Westmoreland, Fayette Counties - By Stacey Magda, Mountain Watershed Association  

-- The Allegheny Front: ALCOSAN Said They Would Remove Sewage From Pittsburgh’s Waterways - How’s It Going?  

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Stormwater Project Aims To Reduce Flooding In South Pittsburgh Neighborhoods

-- Independent: Susquehanna County Conservation District Hosting Student Watershed Day Camp July 21 

-- PA Capital-Star: Schuylkill County Wrestles With Spectre Of ICE Warehouse Immigrant Detention Center Plan In Tremont 

-- Spotlight PA: Emails Detail How Berks County Leaders Worked Behind The Scenes After Federal ICE Warehouse Detention Facility Surprise

[Posted: June 18, 2026]  PA Environment Digest