By: Shaylin McGuire<\/p>\n
On October 31, 2025, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that he has filed criminal charges against Seneca Resources, LLC (\u201cSeneca\u201d), citing violations of state environmental laws.[1]<\/a> Seneca is a large natural gas company that has produced and provided energy to several counties in the Appalachian Basin for over 100 years.[2]<\/a> Its wells are considered some of the largest water producers in Pennsylvania.[3]<\/a> Yet, a Seneca employee noted that most of the business is focused on managing the water, describing the company as \u201calways being seven days away from disaster.\u201d[4]<\/a><\/p>\n Three separate criminal complaints were filed by the state Office of Attorney General following the recommendation of two statewide grand juries.[5]<\/a> The complaints allege improper waste management practices and policies, leading to pollution incidents across eight counties.[6]<\/a> So far, Seneca has been charged with 72 counts of violations of the Solid Waste Management Act and at least 42 counts of violations of the Clean Streams Law.[7]<\/a> The Solid Waste Management Act is a Pennsylvania law that \u201cprovides for the planning and regulation of solid waste storage, collection, transportation, processing treatment and disposal.\u201d[8]<\/a> The Clean Streams Law is another Pennsylvania law that was created to \u201cregulate the discharge of sewage, industrial waste or any substance, which causes or contributes to pollution.\u201d[9]<\/a> The Attorney General specifically aimed to address Seneca\u2019s \u201ccontinued inaction and lack of response to warnings and orders from state agencies.\u201d[10]<\/a><\/p>\n One set of charges against Seneca involves the company\u2019s disposal methods in the Pennsylvania counties of Lycoming, Tioga, Potter, Clearfield, Elk, McKean, Jefferson, and Cameron.[11]<\/a> These set of charges claim that Seneca violated the Solid Waste Management Act by permitting the dumping of well cellar fluids onto the grounds of those counties.[12]<\/a> According to the complaint, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) directly warned Seneca that its operations were not in compliance with Pennsylvania law, but those warnings were disregarded or disputed.[13]<\/a><\/p>\n Another set of charges involves water contamination in Cameron County using the county\u2019s well pad.[14]<\/a> The charges stem from a ruptured pipeline in Cameron County that discharged wastewater from fracking operations into the waters and on the ground of Cameron County.[15]<\/a> These offense violated both the Solid Waste Management Act and the Clean Streams Act, and it was noted that Seneca\u2019s unlawful conduct continued after the DEP warned it to stop.[16]<\/a> This rupture soon affected the private water wells of residents in the area that use well water for drinking.[17]<\/a> Seneca responded quickly to the spill and even supplied a family living downslope from the well pad with a freshwater tank.[18]<\/a> However, the complaints allege that Seneca then began injecting wastewater into unconventional gas wells on a well pad to dispose of the wastewater.[19]<\/a> Officials have said that this practice was designed to aid in reducing waste volume rather than following environmental procedures that were approved by the DEP.[20]<\/a> Although the DEP told Seneca in writing to stop this practice until further investigation could be done, the company ignored those instructions and continued its flushing practices.[21]<\/a> Seneca\u2019s actions in Cameron County ultimately spread more contaminants into the surface waters and ground water in the area.[22]<\/a><\/p>\n Attorney General David Sunday made it clear that \u201cevery Pennsylvanian has a constitutional right to pure water,\u201d which is why he filed charges for violations of those rights.[23]<\/a> He also referenced the Cameron County incident, stating that such outcomes will not be tolerated.[24]<\/a> The case against Seneca is being prosecuted by Chief Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Franz and hearings are scheduled for December 10, 2025.[25]<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1]<\/a> AttorneyGeneral.gov, https:\/\/www.attorneygeneral.gov\/taking-action\/attorney-general-sunday-announces-charges-against-seneca-resources-for-natural-gas-companys-illegal-waste-dumping-across-northern-pa\/ (last visited Nov. 18, 2025).<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> National Fuel, https:\/\/www.nationalfuel.com\/integrated-upstream-gathering\/ (last visited Nov. 18, 2025).<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Marcie Schellhammer, Seneca Resources Charged in Cameron County for Wastewater Dumping<\/em>, Olean Times Herald (Oct. 31, 2025), https:\/\/www.oleantimesherald.com\/2025\/10\/31\/seneca-resources-charged-in-cameron-county-for-wastewater-dumping\/.<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [5]<\/a> AttorneyGeneral.gov, supra<\/em> note 1. See also<\/em>, The Progress, https:\/\/www.theprogressnews.com\/news\/local\/ag-announces-charges-against-seneca-resources\/article_9fcc9d58-d51f-45d7-8d13-5b9ebe5ae891.html (last visited Nov. 18, 2025).<\/p>\n [6]<\/a> Susan Phillips, Pa. Attorney General Files Criminal Charge Against Fracking Company<\/em>, Whyy (Oct. 31, 2025), https:\/\/whyy.org\/articles\/pennsylvania-attorney-general-fracking-criminal-charge\/.<\/p>\n [7]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [8]<\/a> Department of Environmental Protection, https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/agencies\/dep\/programs-and-services\/waste-programs\/statutes-and-regulations (last visited Nov. 19, 2025).<\/p>\n [9]<\/a> 3 Rivers Wet Weather, https:\/\/www.3riverswetweather.org\/about-wet-weather-issue\/wet-weather-regulations\/state (last visited Nov. 19, 2025).<\/p>\n [10]<\/a> AttorneyGeneral.gov, supra<\/em> note 5. See also<\/em>, The Progress, supra<\/em> note 5.<\/p>\n [11]<\/a> Schellhammer, supra<\/em> note 3.<\/p>\n [12]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [13]<\/a> Gavin Fish, Seneca Resources Faces 114 Criminal Charges for Illegal Waste Disposal Throughout Region<\/em>, Explore Jefferson (Oct. 31, 2025), https:\/\/www.explorejeffersonpa.com\/state-news\/2025\/10\/31\/seneca-resources-faces-114-criminal-charges-for-illegal-waste-disposal-throughout-region-169964\/.<\/p>\n [14]<\/a> Schellhammer, supra<\/em> note 9.<\/p>\n [15]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [16]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [17]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [18]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [19]<\/a> AttorneyGeneral.gov, supra<\/em> note 8. See also<\/em>, The Progress, supra<\/em> note 8.<\/p>\n [20]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [21]<\/a> Schellhammer, supra<\/em> note 12.<\/p>\n [22]<\/a> Id.<\/em><\/p>\n [23]<\/a> AttorneyGeneral.gov, supra<\/em> note 17. See also<\/em>, The Progress, supra<\/em> note 17.<\/p>\n