DEP found another spill of bentonite gel from drilling and several locations contaminated by inadvertent returns from the plugging operation.
In addition, DEP observed grey and light brown sediment accumulating in nearby Browns Creek from the site.
Field measurements in the grey/brown sediment and a wetland found it was likely impacted by contaminated water from the conventional well.
Booms had been installed in a small channel leading to another stream in an attempt to stop contaminated water and/or inadvertent returns from reaching the stream.
The well owner was also not complying with multiple provisions in the erosion and sedimentation control general permit for the site.
DEP issued six new violations related to failure to comply with the permit and continued six other violations related to spills, inadvertent returns and discharges into waters of the Commonwealth.
DEP requested a written response by November 9.
Click Here for DEP inspection report #1 and DEP inspection report #2 + photos.
Equitrans LP [EQT] holds 590 permits, including 13 abandoned conventional wells.
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: Plugging rig, booms placed in an attempt to control discharges; One of several inadvertent return unlined pits; Grey/brown sediment in stream impacted by contaminated water.)
[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.]
PA Weekly Oil & Gas Compliance Snapshot - October 17 to 23
-- DEP - Day 119: Contaminated Water Discharges Continue, Failure To Comply With Cleanup Order At Equitrans Water SVC [EQT] Richter Impoundment In Greene County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Routine Inspections Find 16 Anderson Energy SVC LLC Conventional Wells Abandoned, Not Plugged In Forest County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Follow-Up Inspections Of 4 Michael Harju Conventional Wells Found They Continue To Be Abandoned, Not Plugged Going Back To 2020 In Westmoreland County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Routine Inspections Find 3 Keystone Crude LLC Abandoned, Unplugged Conventional Gas Wells In Allegheny County [PaEN]
-- DEP: EQT Production Site Prep For Well Plugging Leads To Significant Well Pad, Access Road Erosion Violations In Fayette County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Contaminated Water Tank Failed Causing Release At Diversified Production LLC Conventional Oil & Gas Well Site In Warren County [PaEN]
-- DEP: Contaminated Water Release Discovered At Deer Run Oil & Gas LLC Conventional Oil & Gas Well Site In Crawford County
-- DEP - Day 645: First Amer Energy Inc. Failed To Comply With Order To Restore 3 Conventional Oil & Gas Well Sites In Warren County [PaEN]
-- PUC Accepting Nominations For PaOneCall Damage Prevention Committee
Related Article This Week:
-- DEP Celebrates Plugging 500th Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Well; DEP Continues To Issue Violations By The Hundreds To Conventional Well Owners For Abandoning Wells [PaEN]
-- Senate Committee Reports Out Resolution Authorizing Study Of The Economic Importance Of Conventional Oil & Gas Industry; Forgetting The Billions In Costs The Industry Dumps On Taxpayers [PaEN]
-- Environmental Health Project, Food & Water Watch, Partners Host Nov. 10 Webinar On Shale Gas Fracking, Data Centers And Your Health [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- TribLive: Proposed Shale Gas Well In Salem Twp. Concerns Local Residents In Westmoreland County
-- Bloomberg Commentary: President’s Arm-Twisting For New York’s Constitution Natural Gas Pipeline May End In Regret
-- Inside Climate News: After A Decade Of Efforts To Regulate Methane From Oil & Gas Industry, The President’s Administration Promises New Rules, Has Rolled Back Or Blocked Previous Attempts
[Posted: October 23, 2026] PA Environment Digest
