Information provided by the Department of Environmental Protection in response to a Right to Know request shows DEP took major enforcement actions against 26 shale gas drilling and pipeline companies in 2023, including imposing $2,290,849 in penalties for violations going back to 2018.

The enforcement actions included issuing administrative enforcement orders, signing consent orders and agreements and civil penalty agreements. 

DEP took a total of 129 of these actions against shale gas drillers and pipeline companies, according to the “enforcements” information in DEP’s Workload Report for 2023.

These actions are in addition to the 1,310 notices of violation DEP issued shale gas drilling and pipeline companies in 2023, according to DEP’s December 29 Workload Report.  Read more here.

DEP issued the most penalties against EQT Corporation and related companies-- $1,120,135; followed by Equitrans-related companies-- $419,740; CNX-related companies-- $385,403; Range Resources Appalachia- $182,900; and Diversified Production- related companies-- $89,100.

The penalties were typically assessed for violations that occurred between 2018 and 2022.

The most frequent violations included erosion and sedimentation control measure failures, spills and releases of wastewater and other fluids.

Abandoned Shale Gas Wells

The information provided by DEP in response to this Right to Know request said the agency issued major violations for abandoning and not plugging shale gas wells to four companies in 2023--

-- Chesapeake Appalachia LLC: no details provided except “addressed through enforcement;”

-- M4 Energy LLC for abandonment and not plugging three shale gas wells at the Triana Young well pad in Hector Township, Potter County;

-- Roulette Oil & Gas LLC for abandoning a shale gas well in Hebron Township, Potter County; and

-- XTO Energy, Inc. for abandoning four shale gas wells in Prospect Borough, Butler County.

However, the weekly reporting by PA Environment Digest based on DEP Oil and Gas Inspection Reports shows DEP issued 10 unconventional shale gas operators 20 notices of violation at 11 well pads during 2023 for abandoning wells without plugging them.   Read more here.

These operators include--

-- Chesapeake Appalachia, Inc: Stoorza Well Pad, Terry Twp., Bradford County;

-- EQT Chap LLC: Basista-Dermotta Well Pad, Sewickley Twp., Westmoreland County:

-- EQT Prod Co.: Phoenix Well Pad, Duncan Twp., Tioga County;

-- Frontier Natural Resources: Winner Well Pad, Keating Twp., Clinton County;

-- M4 Energy LLC: Triana Young Well Pad, Hector Twp., Potter County;

-- Penn View Exploration: Huff Well Pad, Franklin Twp., Butler County;

-- Roulette Oil & Gas, Inc.: Guardian Well Pad, Hebron Twp., Potter County;

-- Seneca Resources Co. LLC: LEH WT2973 Well Pad, Shippen Twp., Cameron County;

-- West Texas Operating Co.: Hillegass Well Pad, Stonycreek Twp., Somerset County;

-- XTO Energy, Inc.: Patton Well Pad, Prospect Borough, Butler County; and

-- XTO Energy, Inc.: Hall Well Pad, Springfield Twp., Fayette County.

Major Actions Take By DEP In 2023

The enforcement actions taken by DEP against the five shale gas companies with the most penalty assessments, include--

CNX Gas Company, LLC  - $92,490

-- Civil Penalty - $7,500 - Finnegan RHL8 - Greene County, Richhill Twp. - Spill (2021)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $42,765 - Conrhein NV13 Pad - Washington County, Morris Twp. - Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Consent Order - $13,000 - RHl 13 Well Pad - Greene County, Richhill Twp. - Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2019) [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $26,725  - Mor42 well site - Washington County, East Finley Twp. - Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2021)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $2,500- Morris to Majorsville Pipeline Project  - Greene County, Gray Twp. - Spill (2021)  [DEP Inspection Report]

CNX Midstream OPR Co, LLC - $189,000

-- Consent Order - $174,000 - Mor44 Pipeline Project - Washington County, East Finley Twp. - Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

     -- Consent Order - GH56 to Lightner Pipeline - Greene County, Center Twp. - Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $15,000 - RHL23-RHL4-WEB22 Pipeline Project - Greene County, Richhill Twp. -  Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

CNX Midstream Partners LP -  $103,913

--  Civil Penalty - $88,650 - WFN10 to WFN6 Gathering Pipeline - Washington County, West Finley Twp. - Industrial Waste Discharge, Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2019)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $15,263 - Mor29 Gathering Pipeline - Greene County, Morris Twp. - Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

Diversified Oil & Gas LLC - $70,850

-- Civil Penalty - $70,850 - Burchianti Well Pad 11A - Greene County, Cumberland Twp. - Spills, Well Integrity, Venting Gas  (2019)  [DEP Inspection Report]

Diversified Production LLC - $18,250

-- Civil Penalty - $4,000 - Markle 13 - Westmoreland County, South Huntingdon Twp. - Failed To Construction Well To Meet Regulations (2021)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $8,500 - Hunter 11 - Westmoreland County, South Huntingdon Twp. -  Failed to Notify DEP of Defective Well Equipment/Casing (2021) [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $5,750 - WH Wilson 5 - Washington County, West Pike Run Twp. - Failed  to dispose of waste properly  (2018 violations)   [DEP Inspection Report Not Available Online]

-- Compliance Order - JLL 1A - Greene County, Dunkard Twp. - Release, Improper Disposal of Waste (2023)  [DEP Inspection Report]

EQM Gathering OPCO LLC  (Equitrans)  $311,240

-- Civil Penalty - $16,950 - NITMS014/NITMH012 Pipeline Project - Greene County, Wayne Twp. - Land Slip, Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $41,000 - Beta Trunk Pipeline Project - Greene County, Aleppo Twp. - Land Slip, Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $120,215 - Beta McNicholas to CDP-2 Pipeline Project - Greene County, Aleppo Twp. - Land Slip, Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $28,200 - NIMIS009 Pipeline Project -  Washington County, Nottingham Twp.- Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $53,775 -NIPI-D001 PipelineLine - Washington County, East Finley Twp., - Land Slip, Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $51,100 - NISTS002 Pipeline - Washington County, Amwell Twp. - Land Slip, Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report]

EQM Poseidon Midstream LLC (Equitrans)  - $108,500

     -- Civil Penalty - $108,500 - Cole Farm Compressor Station - Greene County, Wayne Twp. - Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2018)  [DEP Inspection Report/NOV Response]

Equitrans Water Svc (PA) LLC - $6,000

-- Consent/Civil Penalty - $6,000 - Back Nine Freshwater Impoundment - Washington County, Somerset Twp. - Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failures, Compliance With Permit -     (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report, DEP Inspection Report]

EQT Production Company - $893,600

-- Civil Penalty - $299,000 - Cogar Shale Gas Well Site - Washington County, Amwell Twp. - Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failures (2022)    [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $166,400 - Spills At 2 Shale Gas Well Pads--

     -- Harold Haywood Shale Gas Well Pad - Washington County, Carroll Twp.  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

     -- Walter Stinger Shale Gas Well Pad - Greene County, Aleppo Twp. - Spill (2021)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $166,400 - Spills At 2 Shale Gas Well Pads--

     -- Consent Order - Harbison 594, 597, 604, 605 - Washington County, Nottingham Twp. - Spill (2020-21)  [DEP Inspection Report-597]  [DEP Inspection Report-604]

     -- Consent Order - Prentice 479, 597, 598, 602, 603 - Allegheny County, Forward Twp. - Spill (2019)  [DEP Inspection Report-479] [DEP Inspection Report-597] [DEP Inspection Report-598] [DEP Inspection Report-602]

     -- Consent Order - Fetchen H16, H17, H18, H33, H34, H35 - Allegheny County, Forward Twp. - Spill (2018)  [DEP Inspection Reports not available online]

     -- Consent Order - Henderson 005, 006, 453, 454, 456, 457, 458, 459, 465 - Greene County, Morris Twp. - Spill (2018)  [DEP Inspection Report-573] 

     -- Consent Order - River 891 - Greene County, Jefferson Twp. - Spill (2018)  [DEP Inspection Report-NOV Response]

     -- Consent Order - Haywood H24, H25, H26, 789, 809 - Washington County, Carroll Twp. - Spill (2018)  [DEP Inspection Report-H26]

     -- Consent Order - Moninger 315, 874 - Washington County, Amwell Twp. - Spill (2019)  [DEP Inspection Report-315]

-- Civil Penalty - $22,300 -- Bailey 1021 Well Plugging - Greene County, Washington Twp. -  Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $26,250 - Prentice Shale Gas Well Site - Allegheny County, Forward Twp. - Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation  (2019)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $34,500 - Drift Ridge Shale Gas Well Pad - Greene County, Wayne Twp. - Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $47,500 - Wherry Shale Gas Well Pad - Washington County, West Bethlehem Twp. - Access Road actively subsiding 10 feet and slope failure vehicles stranded on the pad because of underground mining, fracking suspended  (2021)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $65,000 - Lacko Shale Gas Well Pad -  Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failures (2019)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Civil Penalty - $66,250 - Stout Shale Gas Well Pad - Washington County, East Finley Twp. - Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Consent Order - No Details Available - DEP Inspection Report  #2692958 - 11/21/2016  (probably superseded by another action)

Rice Drilling B LLC [EQT] - $226,535

-- Consent/Civil Penalty - $49,550 - Corsair Shale Gas Well Pad - Greene County, Franklin Twp. - Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit, BMP Failure  (2019- 2020)   [DEP Inspection Report-2019, DEP Inspection Report- 2020]

-- Consent/Civil Penalty - $62,810 - Dragon Chan Shale Gas Well Pad - Greene County, Aleppo Twp. - Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit, BMP Failure (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Consent/Civil Penalty - $57,400 - Dahn-Tahn Shale Gas Well Pad - Greene County, Wayne Twp. - Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit, BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Consent/Civil Penalty - $27,350 - Three Musketeers Shale Gas Well Pad - Washington County, North Bethlehem Twp. - Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit, BMP Failure  (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Consent/Civil Penalty - $29,425 - Don Flamenco Shale Gas Well Pad - Greene County, Richhill Twp. - Spill of production wastewater  (2021-2022)  [DEP Inspection Report-2021, DEP Inspection Report-2022]

-- Compliance Order - Iron Man 7H - Washington County, North Bethlehem Twp. - Spill, Failed to Notify DEP (2023)   [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Consent Order - Brova Shale Gas Well Site - Washington County, North Bethlehem Twp. - Spill (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Consent Order - Baby Bear Shale Gas Well Pad - Washington County, Somerset Twp. - Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit, BMP Failure (2022)  [DEP Inspection Permit]

-- Administrative Order - No Details - DEP Inspection Report #3616462 - 6/21/2022 Not Available Online (probably superseded by another action)

Range Resources Appalachia, LLC - $182,900

-- Consent/Civil Penalty - $67,000 covering--

     -- Consent Order - Kingston Sale Gas Well Pad - Washington County, Amwell Twp.  -  Failed To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit (2022)  [DEP Inspection Report]

     -- Consent Order - Castro Shale Gas Well Site - Washington County, Morris Twp. - Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

     -- Consent Order - Lindley John Shale Gas Well Site - Washington County, Morris Twp. - Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

     -- Consent Order - J. Lindley South Shale Gas Well Site - Washington County, Morris Twp. - Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure, Failed To Stabilize Site  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Consent/Civil Penalty - $25,400 - Dalbo Shale Gas Well Pad - Allegheny County, Findlay Twp. - Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit, BMP Failure (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Consent/Civil Penalty - $9,500 - Jodikinos Carol Shale Gas Well Pad - Beaver County, Independence Twp. -  Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit, BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Consent/Civil Penalty - $14,000 - Brownlee Kelley Shale Gas Well Pad - Washington County, Hopewell Twp. - Failure To Comply With Erosion & Sedimentation Permit, BMP Failure  (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

-- Consent/Civil Penalty - $67,000 covering--

     -- Consent Order - Kingston Pad 5H - Washington County, Amwell Twp. - Spill (2019)  [DEP Inspection Report]

     -- Consent Order - Godwin George 15H - Washington County, Cross Creek Twp. - Erosion & Sedimentation BMP Failure (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

     -- Consent Order - Moritz Edward 3H - Washington County, Chartiers Twp. - Spill (2020)  [DEP Inspection Report]

     -- Consent Order - Bakerstown Road 8H - Allegheny County, Frazer Twp., - Spill (2021)  [DEP Inspection Report]

Click Here for the list of major shale gas-related enforcement actions taken by DEP in 2023.

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 webpage to search their compliance records by date and owner and the Inspection Reports Viewer.

Act 14 Advanced Notice Of Permits

Many communities and citizens are not aware that a state law passed in 1984 gives them the first chance to comment on Department of Environmental Protection permit applications even before they are submitted to the agency.  Read more here.

Act 14 requires applicants to submit notices to municipalities and counties for air quality, water obstruction (Chapter 105), any permit issued under the Cleans Streams Law (including Chapter 102, stormwater, NPDES, many more), any solid waste and hazardous waste, land recycling and water allocation permits.

These notifications, sent by registered mail, must give municipalities and counties at least 30 days to comment to DEP and in the case of solid waste and hazardous waste at least 60 days, according to the law.

Without proof Act 14 notices were sent to municipalities and counties within the required timeframe, a DEP permit application is not complete and DEP cannot review it.

And the notices must be sent each time an applicant wants to modify, renew or expand what their applications cover, so there can be a lot of them.

For those interested in the oil and gas industry, these notices cover almost every aspect of developing oil and gas drilling well pads and all gas infrastructure-- pipelines, gas processing plants, water and wastewater storage facilities, pigging and metering stations and more.  Read more here.

DEP’s eNOTICE

Also 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.

2023 Oil & Gas Compliance Reports:

-- 2023 Shale Gas Operator Compliance Report: 1,310 Violations; Explosions; Pad Fire, Evacuation; Uncontrolled Gas Venting; Frack-Outs; Polluting Water Supply; Spills; Pipeline Crashing Thru A Home; More  [PaEN]

-- 2023 Abandoned Wells: DEP Issued At Least 512 Violations To 95 Conventional Oil & Gas Operators For Abandoning Wells Without Plugging Them In 2023; 10 Shale Gas Operators Were Issued NOVs For Abandoning Wells  [PaEN]

-- 2023 Conventional: DEP Imposed $422,365 In Penalties On 14 Conventional Oil & Gas Well Operators In 2023 For Abandoning Wells, Spills, Venting Gas; 93 Operators Cited For Abandoning 271 Wells  [PaEN] 

-- 2023 Convention: DEP Issues Record 6,860 Notices Of Violation To Conventional Oil & Gas Operators In 2023-- Nearly 52% More Than In 2021; ‘Culture Of Non-Compliance’ Continues  [PaEN] 

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - May 11 to 17; Lots Of Spills Week; 3 More Abandoned Shale Well NOVs; Well Shut In To Prevent Frack-Out  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - May 18 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 72 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In May 18 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week - Gas:

-- Rep. Vitali To Introduce Bill Banning The Disposal Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater By Dumping It On Public Roads; Rep. Causer To Introduce Bill Legalizing It  [PaEN]

-- Illegal Wastewater Dumping Continues, Even On Mothers Day, Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners’ Campaign Of Intimidation Of Senate Witness; Now Dumping Before It Rains, On Paved Roads [PaEN]

-- DEP Imposed $2.2 Million In Penalties Against Shale Gas Drilling, Pipeline Companies In 2023 For Violations Dating Back To 2018  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Hearing Board Clears Away More Attempts By Olympus Energy To Block Shale Gas Permit Appeal By Protect PT In Westmoreland County; Olympus Fails To Provide Info On PFAS ‘Forever Chemical’ Use  [PaEN]

-- The Derrick: PUC To Hold May 21 Prehearing On Future Of Venango Water Company; Water Source Contaminated By Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension May 30 Webinar On Landowner Role In Conventional Orphaned, Abandoned Oil And Gas Wells  [PaEN]

-- National Energy Technology Lab, University Of Pittsburgh Say Oil & Gas Wastewater Can Be Major Source Of Lithium For Rechargeable Battery Production  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: $5 Million In Grants Recommended To Support Mitigation Projects In Beaver County Related To Shell Petrochemical Plant Environmental Violations + Shell Paid Total Penalties Of $7,606,027.75  [PaEN]

NewsClips This Week - Gas:

-- The Energy Age Blog: Shale Gas Violations Run Rampant In Pennsylvania, $2.2 Million In Penalties Assessed

-- Warren Times: Oil & Gas Wastewater Spreading Battle Back On In General Assembly

-- KDKA: West Deer Twp. Residents Fighting Back Against Proposed Olympus Energy Shale Gas Well Installations In Allegheny County

-- WPXI: West Deer Twp. Neighbors Fight To Keep Olympus Energy Shale Gas Wells Far From Homes In Allegheny County 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Environmental Mitigation Fund, Set Up Thru Shell Petrochemical Plant Air Penalties Ready To Dole Out Money

-- Beaver County Times: Projects Selected For Shell Petrochemical Plant Environmental Mitigation Funding

-- Post-Gazette/Inside Climate News: Water Quality Advocates Concerned About Increased Pollution, Strong Odors From Outfalls From Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County

-- Inside Climate News: Q&A: Is Pittsburgh Becoming ‘The Plastic City’?

-- The Energy Age Blog: EQT Corp. New Act 14 Notices Of New Wells From Sarah Shale Gas Well Pad In Union Twp., Washington County Headed To Library, South Park In Allegheny County

-- The Energy Age Blog: Path Of May 11 Tornado In Washington County Ended Between The McIntosh Natural Gas Compressor Station, EQT Sarah Shale Gas Well Pad 

-- TribLive: Does It Seem Like More Tornadoes Are Striking Western PA?  They Are

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: State Program To Plug Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Saves Lives, Creates Prosperity - By Environmental Health Project

-- AP: CNX Plans $1.5 Billion Hydrogen Aviation Fuels Plant At Pittsburgh Airport, But Wants Federal Tax Credit To Build It

-- CNX, KeyState Plan Hydrogen Aviation Fuel Hub At Pittsburgh Airport

-- AAA Gasoline Prices: PA- $3.75  National- $3.59  Ohio- $3.50

-- WNEP: UGI Utilities Announces 4.5% Increase In Cost Of Gas Starting June 1, Another 7.3% Increase Projected For Dec. 1 

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs Same As Last Week- 21

-- The Allegheny Front/WV Public Broadcasting: Residents Near Mountain Valley Gas Pipeline Say Details Are Scarce On What Caused Rupture Of Pipe During Test

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Martins Ferry, WV Not Getting Answers On PA Company’s Abandoned Oil & Gas Wastewater Facility Cleanup From Ohio DNR

-- Oil & Gas Journal: Gulfstream LNG Gas Export Facility Gains FERC Approval For Next Step In permitting Process [Not Affected By Pause]

-- Marcellus Drilling News: ETF Trends: US LNG Gas Export Capacity To Rise 80% By 2028 [Even With Pause In Permits For New Export Facilities]

[Posted: May 14, 2024]

5/20/2024