From January 14 to 20, DEP’s Compliance Reporting Database shows oil and gas inspectors filed 380 inspection reports that resulted in reporting 26 violations of environmental regulations-- 4 major violations by the conventional oil and gas industry and 12 major violations by the unconventional shale natural gas industry.

So far this year-- as of January 13-- DEP issued 130 formal notices of violation to conventional operators and 39 to unconventional shale gas operators.

Conventional oil and gas operators Bear Lake Prop LLC (Warren County) and Diversified Prod LLC (Westmoreland County) were given notices of violation for abandoning wells without plugging them.

Unconventional shale gas operators Blackball Energy LLC (Bradford County), Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC (Bradford County), EQT Prod Co. (Greene County) were all given multiple NOVs for spills or discharges.

EQM Gathering OPCO LLC was given multiple NOVs at its Beacon Dehydration Facility and Interconnection Pipeline Project for failing to construct, install, maintain natural gas gathering pipelines according to regulations that resulted in a land slip at the project site in Gilmore Township, Greene County.  [Read DEP inspection report.]

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

2 -- Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It

Company/Location/Violations - Conventional

Warren County

-- Bear Lake Prop LLC - Columbus Twp. - T Reed 2 Well

     -- Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It 

Westmoreland County

-- Diversified Prod LLC - Unity Twp. - Glenn W. Ross 5057

     -- Failure To Plug The Well Upon Abandoning It

Violations Reported - Unconventional Shale Gas

1 -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

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

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

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

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

2 -- Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater

1 -- Operator failed to report storage tank deficiencies

1 -- Operator failed to maintain structurally sound storage structure

1 -- Failed to construct, install, maintain natural gas gathering pipelines according to regulations

1 -- Failed to report 75 x 50 land slip on project site

1 -- Failed to maintain erosion and sedimentation control requirements

Company/Location/Violations - Unconventional Shale Gas

Bradford County

-- Blackhill Energy LLC - Springfield Twp. - Kingsley # 6H

     -- 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

-- Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC - Wilmot Twp. - Kathryn 104H

     -- Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater

     -- Failure To Prevent Substances From Reaching Waters of Commonwealth

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

-- Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC - Leroy Twp. - State Game Lands-12 L South Unit 1HX

     -- Discharged Waste Into Waters Of Commonwealth

     -- Failure To Prevent Substances From Reaching Waters of Commonwealth

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

Greene County

-- Diversified Prod LLC - Dunkard Twp. - Mathews 29A

     -- Operator failed to report storage tank deficiencies

     -- Operator failed to maintain structurally sound storage structure

-- EQT Prod Co. - Aleppo Twp. - Walter Stinger Well Pad#1

     -- Failure To Prevent Substances From Reaching Waters of Commonwealth

     -- Failed To Collect Brine And Properly Manage Wastewater

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

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

Greene County

-- EQM Gathering OPCO LLC - Beacon Dehydration Facility/Interconnection Pipeline Project

     -- Failed to construct, install, maintain natural gas gathering pipelines according to regulations

     -- Failed to report 75 x 50 land slip on project site

     -- Failed to maintain erosion and sedimentation control requirements

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

PA DEP Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 14  to 20  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - Jan. 21  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Sets Feb. 2 Hearing On A 4.5 MGD Out-Of-Basin Diversion For Ironwood Natural Gas Power Plant In Lebanon County, 6 Other Natural Gas Drilling Water Uses  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 34 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Jan. 21 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Compliance Reports:

-- PA Oil & Gas Industry Has Record Year: Cost, Criminal Convictions Up; $3.1 Million In Penalties Collected; Record Number Of Violations Issued; Major Compliance Issues Uncovered; Evidence Of Health Impacts Mounts 

-- DEP Report Finds: Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers Routinely Abandon Wells; Fail To Report How Millions Of Gallons Of Waste Is Disposed; And Non-Compliance Is An ‘Acceptable Norm’

Related Articles This Week:

-- Feature: 60 Years Of Fracking, 20 Years Of Shale Gas: Pennsylvania’s Oil & Gas Infrastructure Is Hiding In Plain Sight  [PaEN]

-- DEP 2021 Oil & Gas Program Annual Report Shows Conventional Oil & Gas Operators Received A Record 610 Notices Of Violation For Abandoning Wells Without Plugging Them  [PaEN]

-- DEP Releases 2 More Bid Solicitations To Plug 43 Abandoned Conventional Gas Wells In Clarion County All At Taxpayer Expense, Industry Doesn’t Pay A Dime  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Sets Feb. 2 Hearing On A 4.5 MGD Out-Of-Basin Diversion For Ironwood Natural Gas Power Plant In Lebanon County, 6 Other Natural Gas Drilling Water Uses  [PaEN]

-- FracTracker Alliance Webinar Exploring Oil & Gas Impacts On Watersheds Available On Demand

-- Better Path Coalition Hosts Jan. 26 Virtual Brown Bag Briefing On Environmental Impacts From Development Of Unconventional Shale Gas & Oil Reserves  [PaEN]

-- York Daily Record Guest Essay: Low Blow By PA Lawmakers - Playing Politics With Kids Abused By Clergy, Harmed By Polluters - By Mitchell Hescox, Evangelical Environmental Network  [PaEN]

-- Williamsport Sun Letter: Dance With The Dinosaurs - Taxpayers Picking Up $1.7 Billion Cost Of Plugging Conventional Oil & Gas Wells - By Barb Jarmoska, Keep It Wild PA  [Abandoned Oil, Gas Wells Can Cost PA Taxpayers $1.8 Billion ]

-- Senate Environmental Committee Reports Out Diesel Mining Equipment Bill, Postpones Resolution On Restart Of Keystone XL Pipeline  [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw Looks For Common Ground With New Governor On Energy, Environmental Issues  [PaEN]

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

[Posted: January 20, 2023]

1/23/2023