DEP: XTO Energy Failed To Restore 5 Multi-Million Gallon Shale Gas Water Impoundments In Butler County

On May 20, the Department of Environmental Protection issued notices of violations to XTO Energy, Inc.-- an ExxonMobil Company-- for failing to restore five multi-million gallon shale gas water impoundments it used to support fracking operations in Butler County.

The impoundments are required to be restored-- liners removed and the area regraded to the original contours-- within nine months of their last use.

XTO Energy missed that deadline by more than five years in one case and nearly 2 years in others.

The impoundments include--

-- Butler Township

-- Hinch Smith Unit Centralized Freshwater Impoundment: Last use not found  DEP inspection report.

-- Connoquenessing Township

-- Guiher Centralized Freshwater Impoundment: Last use November 13, 2022, Deadline for restoration August 2023  DEP inspection report.

-- Penn Township

-- Spang Freshwater Impoundment: Last use 26, 2018, Deadline for restoration July 2019  DEP inspection report.

-- Summit Township--

-- Kozik Centralized Freshwater Impoundment: Last use was Nov. 14, 2022, Deadline for restoration August 2023  DEP inspection report.

-- Ambrose Freshwater Impoundment: Last use Nov. 13, 2022, Deadline for restoration August 2023  DEP inspection report.

Each of the impoundments were fenced, but retaining water at the time of the inspections. 

DEP requested a response to the violations by June 12.

Not The First Water Impoundments Left Behind

-- DEP: Abandoned Shale Gas Water Impoundment Not Used For 7 Years Cited For Not Being Restored In Clarion County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Shale Gas Driller Failed To Restore 3 Million Gallon Water Impoundment, Well Site For Nearly 8 Years In Clinton County [PaEN] 

-- Southwestern Energy Prod Co. Failed To Comply With Act 2 Cleanup Standards At The Greenzweig Shale Gas Wastewater Impoundment In Bradford County After 5 Years  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: Nucomer Energy LLC Fails To Restore Shale Gas Well Pad, Water Impoundment In Forest County For More Than 12 Years After Drilling Was Completed  [PaEN]

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: Row 1-- Hinch Smith Unit Centralized Freshwater Impoundment; Guiher Centralized Freshwater Impoundment; Row 2-- Spang Freshwater Impoundment; Kozik Centralized Freshwater Impoundment; Row 3- Ambrose Freshwater Impoundment.)

[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 Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - May 24 to 31 -- Failed To Restore 5 Shale Gas Water Impoundments In One County; 5 New Cases Of Defective Shale Well Cement; More Abandoned Shale, Conventional Wells  [PaEN]

-- DEP:  XTO Energy Failed To Restore 5 Multi-Million Gallon Shale Gas Water Impoundments In Butler County  [PaEN] 

-- Inside Climate News: PennEnergy Surrenders Water Withdrawal Approval/Permit Saying Big Sewickley Creek In Beaver County Could Not Provide Enough Water For Shale Gas Operations  [PaEN] 

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - May 31 [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Comments On State Plan To Implement Federal Rule Requiring Methane Emissions Reductions From Conventional Oil & Gas, Shale Gas Facilities; 7 Hearings Set  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved 45 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In April; 187 In 2025  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 67 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In May 31 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

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-- Martins Ferry Times Leader: PA’s Austin Master Services Abandoned Frack Waste Plant Cleanup In Martins Ferry, OH Slated For Completion

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[Posted: May 31, 2025]  PA Environment Digest