To give the public a better understanding of the compliance record of oil and gas industrial facilities in Pennsylvania, PA Environment Digest is starting a new feature summarizing the more serious violations DEP reports through its Compliance Reporting Database on a weekly basis -- Saturday through Friday.

This new feature will be in addition to -- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment-- which lists the permits DEP is considering and has issued for oil and gas facilities.

Taken together, the public will get a weekly report on how the oil and gas industry is expanding across Pennsylvania and the kinds of environmental violations reported as a result of DEP’s inspections.

Send your feedback on these features to: paenvirodigest@gmail.com.

This Week’s Summary

From November 5 through 11, DEP inspections resulted in reporting 255 violations of environmental regulations-- 241 violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 14 violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

So far this year-- as of November 4-- DEP issued 4,208 formal notices of violation to conventional operators and 991 to unconventional shale gas operators.

The most significant problem reported again this week was seven instances of failure to plug conventional oil and gas wells upon abandoning them by Dannic Energy Corp in Butler County (1) and Erie County (1), Stedman Energy, Inc. in Erie County (3) and River Ridge Gravel Co. in Venango County (2).

The second most significant issue was the failure of River Ridge Gravel Co. to file annual production and waste disposal reports and well integrity reports for 54 wells in Venango County.

The production and waste report is critical to understanding how much wastewater and other waste those wells generated and where it was disposed of.

The annual integrity report is critical because it helps ensure the operator is taking the steps needed to prevent natural gas, oil or contaminated water leaks from oil and gas wells.

Report Violations

To report oil and gas violations or any environmental emergency or complaint, visit DEP’s Environmental Complaint webpage.

Check These Resources

Visit DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database webpage to search their compliance records by date and operator.

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.

Violation Details

Violations Reported - Conventional

7 -- Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It

1 -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

1 -- Operator Vented Natural Gas Into The Atmosphere

1 -- Failure To Report A Release That Caused Or Threatens To Cause Pollution

1 -- Failure To Prevent Substances From Reaching Waters of Commonwealth

1 -- Failed To Properly Dispose Of Fluids, Wastes, Drill Cuttings

1 -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

1 -- Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater

1 -- Failure To Construction Well To Maintain Its Integrity

54 -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

54 -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

1 -- Failure To Provide Free & Unrestricted Access

Operator/Location-Well Pad/Violations - Conventional

Allegheny County

-- Allegheny County - Moon Township - Raymond Anderson

     -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

     -- Failed To Properly Dispose Of Fluids, Wastes, Drill Cuttings

     -- Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater

     -- Failure To Report A Release That Caused Or Threatens To Cause Pollution

     -- Failure To Prevent Substances From Reaching Waters of Commonwealth

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

Butler County

-- Dannic Energy Corp - Fairview Twp. - CUPEC 1

     -- Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It

Cambria County

-- Equitrans LP - Jackson Twp. - George Reade

     -- Operator Vented Natural Gas Into The Atmosphere

     -- Failure To Construction Well To Maintain Its Integrity

     -- Failure To Provide Free & Unrestricted Access

Erie County

-- Stedman Energy, Inc. - Le Boeuf Twp. - Belt 1

     -- Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It

-- Stedman Energy, Inc. - Le Boeuf Twp. - Malacarne 1

     -- Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It

-- Stedman Energy, Inc. - Le Boeuf Twp. - Sauers 2

     -- Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It

-- Dannic Energy Corp. - Venango Twp. - G PROCTOR UNIT 1

     -- Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It

Venango County

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 13

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 6

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 55 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 59 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 17 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 18 Well

     -- Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 29 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 10 INC

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 60 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - PR 1

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 31

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 42 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 43 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 48 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 40 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 47 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 8 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 1

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 41

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 19

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 20

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 28

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 21

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 16

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 2

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 30

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 34

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 49

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 12

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 7 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 9 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 27

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 33 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 37

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 50

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 26

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 3

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 15 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 22

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 51

     -- Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 38

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report
--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 4

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 5

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 39

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 32

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 25

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 23

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 24

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 46

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 52 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 53 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 35

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - INC 36

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

--  River Ridge Gravel Co. - Cranberry Twp. - 54 Well

     -- Failed To Submit Well Production & Waste Management Report

     -- Failed To Submit Well Integrity Report

Violations Reported - Unconventional Shale Gas

2 -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

2 -- Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures

Company/Location/Violations - Unconventional Shale Gas

Lycoming County

-- EQT ARO LLC - Cummings Twp. - Larry’s Creek

     -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

     -- Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures

Tioga County

-- Seneca Resources - Middlebury Twp. - GEE 848W 22H

      -- Operated A Residual Waste Processing Or Disposal Facility Without A Permit

      -- Failed To Contain Wastes Or Regulated Substances In Tanks Or Other Storage Structures

[Note: If you believe your company was listed in error, contact DEP’s Oil and Gas Program.]

Related Articles This Week:

-- What Can We Expect From Gov. Shapiro, Lt. Gov. Davis On Environmental, Energy Issues?  [PaEN]

-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: Environmentalists Breathe Sigh Of Relief In PA With Midterm Election Results, But Shapiro’s, Fetterman’s Policies On Key Issues Remain Uncertain

-- Washington Examiner: Natural Gas-Friendly Message Helped Fuel Democrat Shapiro’s PA Win

-- Observer-Reporter: Ongoing Water Donation Drive Helping Dozens Of Greene County Families Who Haven’t Had Clean Drinking Water Since June Following Alleged ‘Frack-Out’ At Natural Gas Well Site  [PaEN]

-- Bob Donnan Blog/WTAE: Washington County Family Files Landmark Lawsuit Over Hazardous Chemicals And Chevron/EQT Shale Gas Drilling

-- WTAE: Lawsuit By Washington County Homeowner Says Fracking Caused PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ To Contaminate His Drinking Water 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Washington County Family Sues Chevron, EQT Over Shale Gas Well Pads Near House

-- Observer-Reporter: Range Resources Part Of DEP Investigation Into High Methane Levels In 2 Homes In South Strabane Twp., Washington County 

-- E&E News - Heather Richards: Biden Orphan Well Plan Faces Trouble In PA: ‘All For Naught’ If DEP Can’t Stop New Oil & Gas Well Abandonments

-- Capital & Main - Audrey Carleton: In Fracking’s ‘Ground Zero’ - Dimock, Susquehanna County - PA Residents Feel Left Behind - Part I

-- Public Source: DEP Promises To Monitor Shell Ethane Plant, Look Into All Citizen Complaints

-- Public Source: Citizen Scientists Prepare To Monitor Shell Ethane Plant In Beaver County

-- Guest Essay: Stop Giving Handouts To Natural Gas Industry, Make Them Clean Up Their Own Messes And Protect Public Health - By Mitchell Hescox, Evangelical Environmental Network; Jacquelyn Omotalade, Environmental Health Project; Melissa Ostroff, MPH, Earthworks  [PaEN]

-- Guest Essay: Our Leaders Need To Stop Negotiating With The Fossil-Fuel Industry Behind Closed Doors And Protect Public Health And Our Children - By Lois Bower-Bjornson, Clean Air Council and Washington County Resident  [PaEN]

-- Tribune-Democrat Guest Editorial: State Insists On Paying Natural Gas Polluters In $2 Billion Tax Credit Package

-- FracTracker Alliance, Clean Air Council, Other Groups Hosting Nov. 14 Webinar On Protected Zones: Setbacks From Oil & Gas Facilities In California, Colorado, PA  [PaEN]

-- NEW FEATURE: Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Nov. 5 To 11  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment  [PaEN]  

-- DEP Issues Revised Chapter 102 Permit For Mariner East II Pipeline Post Construction Stormwater Management BMPs In Delaware County [PaEN]

-- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Accepting Comments On Draft EIS For Ohio Valley Connector Natural Gas Pipeline In Greene County Until Nov. 21  [PaEN]

-- Reuters: Williams Urges FERC To Approve Regional Energy Access Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion Affecting 6 Counties In PA  [PaEN]

-- EPA Unveils Proposed Methane Pollution Reduction Standards Covering Oil & Gas Facilities, Including Conventional Oil & Gas Wells  [PaEN]

-- NextPittsburgh: Franklin, Venango County, Poised To Become The Next Great ‘Outdoor Town’  [Except for the dumping and negative environmental impacts of the conventional oil & gas industry]

[Posted: November 12, 2022]

11/14/2022