More charges filed against Eureka for 2025 wastewater spill
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State Attorney General Dave Sunday has filed more criminal charges against the defunct Eureka Resources for illegally discharging roughly 16,000 gallons of oil and gas wastewater from its Williamsport plant last August.
About half of the liquid escaped tank containment and left the building, according to the state Department of Environmental Resources (DEP) and the attorney general office's investigation.
Some of the wastewater entered the storm sewer, which emptied into the West Branch of the Susquehanna river and was reported by fishermen who saw the sheen on the river below the Hepburn Street pump station and dam.
The company is alleged to have committed offenses that include: Disturbing of waterways and wastersheds, allowing substance delivery/distribution and poison to fish, unlawful conduct, prohibition against discharge of industrial waste, unlawful discharge of industrial waste without a permit, and prohibition against other pollutions and pollution of waters, according to an affidavit by Anthony Martinelli, a supervisory special agent with the attorney general's office Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Environmental Crimes Section.
The investigation indicates that on Jan. 24, 2024, at the request of then Lycoming County District Attorney Ryan C. Gardner, who is now a county judge, by his letter dated Dec. 15, 2023, the Office of Attorney General Executive Deputy General Michele Walsh accepted jurisdiction into a complaint regarding Eureka Resources, Lycoming County.
During the course of the investigation, Martinelli said he became aware that the Eureka Second Street facility, and at the Reach Road facility at 208 Catawissa Ave. accepted oil and gas industry liquid waste for processing that waste for reuse.
Waste that was brought to Eureka's Second Street facility to be treated was left in the storage tanks, untreated. Waste brought to the Reach Road facility, which was used as additional storage, prior to treatment at another facility, was not removed.
This was a violation of their Department of Environmental Protection permit and DEP regulations, he alleged.
Eureka was in violation of insufficient freeboard and having high-level alarms that were not functioning or were turned off. The Catawissa Avenue facility stored wastewater in violation of their DEP permit and DEP regulations. Based on the investigation, the attorney general's office alleges it has probable cause to believe that the company committed criminal violations of the Solid Waste Management Act, Clean Streams Law and Fish and Boat Code, according to court documents.
This is the second time the attorney general's office has filed criminal charges against Eureka Resources.
Sunday filed criminal charges against Eureka Resources for oil and gas wastewater leaks from its Standing Stone Facility in Wysox Township, Bradford County in June. It was one of three now closed treatment facilities owned by the company.
Eureka Resources ceased processing oil and gas wastes in June 2024 and has sold its business operations at all three of its three treatment plant properties.
According to the court schedule, a preliminary hearing on charges filed by Martinelli is scheduled on Aug. 25 at 11 a.m. before District Judge Christian D. Frey.