10/01/2026
On August 31st, 2026, it was discovered that a conventional natural gas well site was leaking orange, oily fluid from a production tank.
The site is about 200 feet from the backyards of nearby houses
Abandoned conventional wells like these are all over the United States, and they're a warning about the mess we inherit when the fossil fuel industry isn't held to a standard that protects residents who live near them.
You can see if any known wells are near you by looking at the PA DEP Oil and Gas mapping website ( https://gis.dep.pa.gov/paoilandgasmapping/oilgaswellsstraygasmap.html? ). Keep an eye out for neglected or abandoned conventional wells in your community. If you notice any of the following at a well site, report it:
-Fluid, sludge or gases leaking from tanks or pipes or in surrounding soil or water
-Strong odors (Refined methane gas is odorless, but raw gas has other constituents in it that smell)
-Hissing or squealing noises from equipment
-Obvious cracks, holes, bubbling paint, extensive rust, or other damage
-Wells with no identified operator or well ID information
-Patterns of conspicuously dead vegetation
If you notice any of the above, you can take steps to protect your community and hold industry accountable:
-If it’s an emergency, call 911
-If there is an urgent threat to the environment: call the DEP emergency hotline at 1-800-541-2050
-If the threat is not immediate: make observations, take pictures and document whatever you can including the date, time, and location.
-Submit a complaint to DEP online or via phone at 866-255-5158.
-Report it with the Protect PT Mobile app ( https://report.protectpt.org/portal.php )
-If the well is on your property, fill out and submit the abandoned well reporting form to the PA DEP ( https://greenport.pa.gov/elibrary/GetFolder?FolderID=669956 )
-Subscribe to our permits and violations digest to stay up to date on unconventional (aka “fracking”) gas development your area. ( https://www.protectpt.org/operator-accountability )
