Wastewater

DeepRock Disposal | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Regulation | Washington County (OH) | Wastewater

Marietta, OH Officials Ask ODNR to Deny Permit for Injection Well
August 26, 2025August 26, 2025

The war of words continues. Two weeks ago, a county Republican meeting in Washington County, Ohio, where the City of Marietta is located, turned into a shouting match over a potential fifth shale wastewater injection well proposed by DeepRock Disposal Solutions (see OH Republican Officials Squabble in Public Over Injection Wells). The open hostility continues with Marietta officials, including the city’s mayor, law director, water superintendent, and a majority of city council members, asking the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Oil and Gas Chief Eric Vendel to deny a permit application from DeepRock for the Stephan #1 injection well. Read More “Marietta, OH Officials Ask ODNR to Deny Permit for Injection Well”
Accidents | Energy Services | Eureka Resources | Industrywide Issues | Lycoming County | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Wastewater

PA DEP Orders Eureka Resources to Remove Waste at Williamsport Plant
August 25, 2025August 25, 2025

Just as we were heading out the door last week for a couple of days off, news broke that a now-idled frack wastewater treatment plant, a Eureka Resources facility in Williamsport, PA, had sprung a leak in a tank and that some of the fluid had entered a storm drain, making its way to the Susquehanna River (see ‘Black Goop’ Spills into Susquehanna River from Closed Eureka Plant). We have updates to that story, including administrative orders logged against Eureka by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and news that the DEP had issued a notice of violation against the facility just 10 days before the leak occurred. Read More “PA DEP Orders Eureka Resources to Remove Waste at Williamsport Plant”
Accidents | Energy Services | Eureka Resources | Industrywide Issues | Lycoming County | Pennsylvania | Wastewater

‘Black Goop’ Spills into Susquehanna River from Closed Eureka Plant
August 19, 2025August 19, 2025

Once upon a time, Eureka Resources operated three shale wastewater recycling facilities in the Marcellus region, one in Bradford County, PA, and two in the Williamsport, PA, area (Lycoming County). One year ago, MDN brought you the news that Eureka had “temporarily” closed the Bradford site and had permanently closed the two sites in Williamsport (see Eureka Temporarily Idles Bradford County Shale Wastewater Plant). In June, MDN reached out to the company for comment on why it had not resumed operation at the Bradford site. We got no response. Now comes word that one of the closed facilities in Williamsport is leaking an “oily substance” that found its way into a storm drain and from there, into the nearby Susquehanna River. A fisherman reported it looked like a “black goop” when reeling in his line. Read More “‘Black Goop’ Spills into Susquehanna River from Closed Eureka Plant”
Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Ohio | Regulation | Trumbull County | Wastewater

OH Supreme Court to Hear Case of Closed AWMS Injection Well, Again
August 19, 2025August 19, 2025

We’ve been tracking a story that we consider an ongoing tragedy for more than a decade. American Water Management Services (AWMS) owns a wastewater injection well in Trumbull County, Ohio, that supposedly caused a low-level earthquake (that nobody could feel) in 2014. Actually, there are two injection wells located at the site, both operated by AWMS. They were both “temporarily” shut down by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) following the quake nobody could feel (see ODNR Temporarily Shuts Down Injection Wells After Low-Level Quake). ODNR allowed AWMS to reopen one of the injection wells but denied it the right to reopen the second well. AWMS said it makes no economic sense to reopen just one of the wells and has been locked in a legal battle to reopen the shuttered well and get compensated by the state for forcing it out of business (missed revenues). The Ohio Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case tomorrow—for a third time. Read More “OH Supreme Court to Hear Case of Closed AWMS Injection Well, Again”
Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Washington County (OH) | Wastewater

OH Republican Officials Squabble in Public Over Injection Wells
August 15, 2025August 15, 2025

According to a leftist Democrat publication, Signal Ohio, what was “supposed to be a sleepy, county-level Republican meeting where political allies get on the same page” turned into a shouting match between Marietta City Council President Susan Vessels (a Republican) and State Senator Brian Chavez (a Republican and Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee). The heated discussion revolved around wastewater injection wells and their proximity to city water supplies. Chavez is the former CEO of DeepRock Disposal Solutions, which currently operates four injection wells near Marietta and has applied to build a fifth. Read More “OH Republican Officials Squabble in Public Over Injection Wells”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Wastewater | Westmoreland County

Upper Burrell Continues to Tweak Plan to Block Injection Wells
August 11, 2025August 11, 2025

Upper Burrell (Westmoreland County, PA) town supervisors have historically been receptive (or at least tolerant) to the Marcellus Shale industry that has so blessed their town and Westmoreland County. But attitudes seemed to change last December, at least with respect to wastewater injection wells (see Upper Burrell Twp Makes Moves to Ban Wastewater Injection Wells). The town’s Board of Supervisors instructed the town solicitor to draft an ordinance with stricter rules for the use of abandoned wells in the township, wells that could (theoretically) be used as wastewater injection wells. It seems the board is putting some final tweaks on the proposed new ordinance, and it will come up for a vote “soon.” Read More “Upper Burrell Continues to Tweak Plan to Block Injection Wells”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Susquehanna County | Wastewater

Politicians, Others Tour 2 Lithium-from-Wastewater Plants in NEPA
August 1, 2025August 1, 2025

click for larger version

Yesterday, Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09) joined Pennsylvania State Representative Jonathan Fritz (PA-111), other state legislators, and industry leaders to tour two lithium-from-wastewater facilities in Susquehanna County, PA, followed by a roundtable discussion focused on positioning PA as a national leader in the domestic production of critical minerals like lithium and rare earth elements. Of particular interest for us is that the name/location of one of the two facilities was officially revealed, something MDN did in June. (You stay ahead of the curve when you read MDN!) Read More “Politicians, Others Tour 2 Lithium-from-Wastewater Plants in NEPA”
Accidents | Bradford County | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Repsol | Wastewater

Repsol Continues Cleanup at Bradford Pad, No Stream Impacts
July 25, 2025July 25, 2025

Overview of the current material recovery around the 7H wellhead, material is being piled for removal offsite (PA DEP)

Earlier this week, MDN brought you the news about an “uncontrolled release” of production fluid at a Repsol well in northeastern Pennsylvania (see Uncontrolled Release of Wastewater at Repsol Pad in Bradford County). The fluid escaped secondary containment and specially-constructed gravel berms set up and poured over into the surrounding environment at Repsol’s 7H gas well on the Broadleaf Holdings pad in Troy Township, Bradford County. The uncontrolled release went on for 34 hours until a second plug was installed to stop the flow. Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) did a follow-up inspection. Fortunately, there have been no significant impacts on nearby streams. Read More “Repsol Continues Cleanup at Bradford Pad, No Stream Impacts”
Accidents | Bradford County | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Repsol | Wastewater

Uncontrolled Release of Wastewater at Repsol Pad in Bradford County
July 21, 2025July 21, 2025

Fluid held in the western corner of the Repsol 7H well pad

Just coming to light (for us) is an incident with a Repsol well in northeastern Pennsylvania. At approximately 6:30 p.m. on July 13, 2025, Repsol reported an “uncontrolled release of produced fluid” at the company’s 7H shale gas well on the Broadleaf Holdings pad in Troy Township, Bradford County. The fluid escaped secondary containment and specially-constructed gravel berms set up and poured over into the surrounding environment. The uncontrolled release went on for 34 hours until a second plug was installed to stop the flow. Read More “Uncontrolled Release of Wastewater at Repsol Pad in Bradford County”
Allegheny County | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Wastewater

Penneco Appeals Plum Twp Rejection of Second Injection Well
July 14, 2025July 14, 2025

Penneco Environmental Solutions wants to build a second wastewater injection well in Plum Borough (Allegheny County), PA, next to an existing injection well. Penneco’s first wastewater injection well in Plum finally opened for business in mid-2021, overcoming all sorts of smears, slanders, and lawsuits by the enviro-left (see Plum Boro Injection Well in SWPA Now Open for Business!). In September 2021, Penneco announced plans to build a second wastewater injection well in Plum, located next to the first one (see 2nd Shale Wastewater Injection Well Planned for Plum Boro in SWPA). Nearly four years later, the Plum Borough zoning board rejected the request, prompting Penneco to say it would appeal the decision to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas (see Plum (PA) Zoning Bd. Rejects 2nd Injection Well, Appeal Coming). Penneco did just that, recently filing its appeal. Read More “Penneco Appeals Plum Twp Rejection of Second Injection Well”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Susquehanna County | Wastewater

Northeast PA Legislator Promotes Lithium from Frack Wastewater
July 8, 2025July 8, 2025

PA Rep. Jonathan Fritz

Two weeks ago, MDN shared two stories about different shale wastewater plants coming (already in testing) in Susquehanna County, PA, tucked in the northeast corner of the state. The purpose of the facilities is to extract lithium from frack wastewater, or “brine” (see Integrated Lithium Production Plant Coming to PA Marcellus in 2026 and Successful Lithium-from-Brine Pilot Test in Susquehanna County, PA). We followed up on those stories with a post last week, pondering the question of whether landowners will see any financial benefit from extracting lithium from what is otherwise a waste product (see Do Landowners Get Money for Lithium Extracted from Wastewater?). That post sparked a heated debate on the topic. Read More “Northeast PA Legislator Promotes Lithium from Frack Wastewater”
Accidents | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Seneca Resources | Tioga County (PA) | Wastewater

Seneca Works to Clean Up Wastewater Spill at Tioga Co. Well Pad
July 7, 2025July 7, 2025

Seneca Resources continues to clean up spilled wastewater at a pad in Charleston Township (Tioga County), PA. The Vandergrift 290 pad hosts six wells, four of which are active and producing, one of which is now plugged, and another is in the process of being plugged. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reports active remediation efforts have continued for more than 30 days after a large wastewater spill was discovered. An initial DEP inspection of the site on May 13 (prompted by a complaint) found two large areas of “distressed” vegetation with evidence of a wastewater release. Read More “Seneca Works to Clean Up Wastewater Spill at Tioga Co. Well Pad”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Wastewater | Westmoreland County

Upper Burrell Plans to Block Injection Wells with New Policy
July 3, 2025July 3, 2025

Upper Burrell, PA

Upper Burrell (Westmoreland County, PA) town supervisors have historically been receptive (or at least tolerant) to the Marcellus Shale industry that has so blessed their town and Westmoreland County. But attitudes seemed to change last December, at least with respect to wastewater injection wells (see Upper Burrell Twp Makes Moves to Ban Wastewater Injection Wells). The town’s Board of Supervisors instructed the town solicitor to draft an ordinance with stricter rules for the use of abandoned wells in the township. At a board meeting on Wednesday, members of the community (Big Green shills?) lectured the supervisors that the proposed draft needs tightening to ensure absolutely no new injection wells are possible in the town. Read More “Upper Burrell Plans to Block Injection Wells with New Policy”
Industrywide Issues | Lease & Royalty Payments | Wastewater

Do Landowners Get Money for Lithium Extracted from Wastewater?
July 3, 2025July 3, 2025

Lithium extracted from Marcellus shale wastewater (brine) has been in the news over the past week or so. Last week, we brought you the exciting news that a Boston-based company, Gradiant, is working on building a lithium production facility in an undisclosed PA location, which we were able to identify as Susquehanna County (see Integrated Lithium Production Plant Coming to PA Marcellus in 2026). Two days later we brought you the news that Vancouver-based Rain City Resources Inc. is already testing lithium-from-brine technology at a different facility in Susquehanna County (see Successful Lithium-from-Brine Pilot Test in Susquehanna County, PA). The news has sparked a flurry of inquiries to MDN asking this question: Will landowners receive compensation for wastewater sales that contain lithium? Read More “Do Landowners Get Money for Lithium Extracted from Wastewater?”
Industrywide Issues | Litigation | McKean County | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Wastewater

PA EHB Rejects Request to Dismiss McKean Co. Injection Well Appeal
July 1, 2025July 1, 2025

MDN previously brought you the news that the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved a plan by Catalyst Energy to convert an existing conventional gas production well on Route 646 in Cyclone (Keating Township, McKean County, PA) into a shale wastewater injection well (see PA DEP Approves Shale Wastewater Injection Well in McKean County). The DEP approved the plan on Jan. 11, 2024. Residents who live nearby and are opposed to the decision appealed it to the PA Environmental Hearing Board (EHB), a special court established to hear appeals of DEP decisions. The EHB issued an opinion on Dec. 27, 2024, that allowed the well to move forward (see PA EHB Allows Wastewater Injection Well in McKean County to Open). Catalyst commenced injections on Jan. 22 of this year. Given that the EHB allowed the well to finish work and come online, both the DEP and Catalyst filed a motion with the EHB to dismiss the appeal from residents. Read More “PA EHB Rejects Request to Dismiss McKean Co. Injection Well Appeal”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Susquehanna County | Wastewater

Successful Lithium-from-Brine Pilot Test in Susquehanna County, PA
June 27, 2025June 27, 2025

Aerial view of Kendra II plant site, Springville, PA (click for larger version)

In February, MDN brought you the news that a new player is entering the Marcellus looking to extract lithium from shale brine (wastewater), and it’s doing it in a big way in Susquehanna County in the northeastern corner of Pennsylvania (see New Lithium-from-Brine Plant Coming to Northeast Pa. Marcellus). Avonlea Lithium Corporation, a subsidiary of Vancouver-based Rain City Resources Inc., is providing its technology to Kendra II, based in Springville, PA, to establish an on-site plant for extracting lithium from Marcellus brine. We told you the new plant would be set up and operating by April of this year. And indeed that happened. Read More “Successful Lithium-from-Brine Pilot Test in Susquehanna County, PA”