PA Environment Digest Blog: 6-Inch Conventional Natural Gas Gathering Pipeline Rupture Causes Spill In Rostraver Twp., Westmoreland County; State Agencies Have No Jurisdiction Over Safety Issues

On Monday, March 17, 2025 at approximately 5:30 p.m., Williams/Laurel Mountain Midstream, LLM notified DEP of a rupture in the Patterson to Anden six-inch natural gas gathering pipeline near Todd Farm Road on the Manack farm in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County.

Williams/Laurel Mountain said the underground pipeline served conventional gas wells in the area.

Williams reported in a later summary of the incident they had shut-in the pipeline and isolated the rupture by about 6:00 p.m. and that the rupture was first reported by the landowner.

DEP first inspected the site on March 19 and found the pipeline rupture occurred directly below an unnamed tributary to Cedar Run, a tributary to the Youghiogheny River, and released natural gas into the stream. DEP inspection report.

No fish kill was observed, but there was a crude oil-like odor and greasy brown sheen/stain were observed on the water.

Williams placed oil absorbent booms and pads in areas where visible sheen/stains were observed and said the contamination was probably crude oil that was sitting in the pipeline.

DEP collected samples at various locations with visible contamination and issued multiple violations related to the spills.

DEP did follow-up inspections on March 20, 2025, March 25, 2025, March 26, 2025 (file), March 28, 2025, March 31, 2025 (file), April 1, 2025, April 2, 2025 (compliance evaluation) and April 3, 2025 (file).

The last onsite inspection posted by DEP was on April 2 to observe the “pigging” operation-- cleaning out any residual material left in the pipeline that Williams suspected was the cause of a slow, continuing leak from the pipeline.

DEP said “no observable evidence of remaining impacts was found after the operator conducted pigging operations” on April 2.

DEP concluded its report by saying, “Based on observations from this inspection, it appears at the time of inspection that all visually impacted material has been removed from UNT [unnamed tributary] to Cedar Run. Therefore, outstanding violations that were issued from IR [inspection report] 3945585 shall be closed.”

There was no information in the DEP inspection reports about repairs being made to the pipeline itself.

In an April 3 response to the violations sent to DEP, Williams said it had cleaned out the pipeline to remove any residual material and continued efforts to clean up any remaining contaminants from the stream related to the rupture.

Williams said it will begin weekly inspections to observe conditions and maintain absorbents as needed at the site and report the results to DEP.

Water samples will also be collected to verify no further impacts to the stream and shared with DEP.

Williams said it “will provide further updates to PADEP should it determine that any additional remedial efforts are necessary.”

In an April 3 note to this file, DEP said it was reviewing Williams’ written response to the violations.

No Safety Jurisdiction

In this incident, DEP only has jurisdiction over issues related to the immediate environmental impact of this rupture, not to the cause of the rupture or how the pipeline will be repaired or operated in the future to prevent another incident.

The Public Utility Commission does not have jurisdiction over this pipeline to regulate it for safety, construction or operations because it is related to gas production.

The PUC estimates there are between 60,000 and 100,000 miles of gas gathering pipelines in 33 counties, many not mapped. Read more here.

The Westmoreland County Emergency Incidents and Information Facebook page shows no information on this March 17 gas pipeline rupture.

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: Suspected release point - Williams; Contaminated areas of stream - DEP inspection reports.)

[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.]

Resource Links:

-- Natural Gas, Hazardous Liquids Pipelines Are NOT Required To Carry Insurance Or Show They Can Pay For Damages If They Explode, Leak Or Kill Someone [PaEN]

-- Criminal Convictions; Record Penalties, Restitution Of Over $158.3 Million Highlight Big Shale Gas, Related Petrochemical Industry Compliance History In Pennsylvania [PaEN]

-- Daily Grind Living Next To Oil & Gas Industry: Spills, Polluted Water Supplies, Smells Like Gas, Noise, Air Pollution, Explosions, Truck Traffic, Erosion, Radioactive Waste, Gas Flares, Dust, Lights, Road Dumping Waste, Abandoned Wells [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - April 26 to May 2: Contaminated Livestock Water Supply; Ruptured Gathering Pipeline; Failure To Comply With Shale Gas Well Plugging Order [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - May 3 [PaEN]

-- DEP Received Air Quality Permit For 4.6 Gigawatt Homer City Generation Natural Gas Power Plant For Data Center In Indiana County [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 77 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In May 3 PA Bulletin [PaEN]