Regional DEP provides end-of-week statement, inspection reports, other updates on Williamsport spill situation

Absorbent booms are shown floating across the exit for the Hepburn Street pump house outfall as a remediation effort to capture oily fluids floating on the water's surface. Photo by Michael Kinney.

The following end-of-week update was provided by Northcentral Regional Communications Manager of the PA Department of Environmental Protection Megan Lehman about the Eureka spill situation in Williamsport as of 5:15 p.m. on Friday, August 22, 2025. Find additional updates and information about this topic at the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association's blog as they become available.

DEP has continued its investigation following the spill from an aboveground storage tank at Eureka Resources’ 2nd Street Williamsport facility on August 17, 2025.  DEP has inspected the facility daily since the spill occurred (see inspection reports at end of this update). DEP is working closely with the PA Fish and Boat Commission, Williamsport Sanitary Authority, Lycoming County Emergency Management Agency, City of Williamsport, and Williamsport Fire Department. DEP will explore all options and resources for carrying out cleanup efforts, which will continue as long as necessary.  To prevent additional releases to the river, the ongoing cleanup efforts are currently focused on the Eureka facility and the connected stormwater system to remove any remaining pooled material. 

Representatives from DEP’s Waste Management program have taken samples from the site, including of the spilled material, and in the river above and below the point of discharge to be tested for constituents of petroleum products and radioactive material. A member of DEP’s Emergency Response Team used an AccuRad radiations meter to survey radiation at the site of the spill during the initial investigation response, and did not detect any levels of radiation above background levels. The closest downstream public water supplier in Milton has been monitoring its intake and has reported no impacts. Based on all available information, DEP determined it was not necessary to recommend a broad-based restriction on public access to the river.

On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, DEP issued an Administrative Order (attached here) to Eureka Resources ordering them to take immediate interim action to prevent further release from the leaking tank at the 2nd Street Williamsport facility, to submit to DEP within five days a plan to remove all liquid waste spilled at the site, and to remove all liquid waste currently stored at the site within 30 days.  DEP found that as of June 29, 2025, the waste had been stored for over one year, placing it in violation of the permit.  

DEP has been closely monitoring the status of all three of Eureka Resources’ facilities and has taken several actions as materials stored at the various sites began to exceed the one-year threshold of waste being stored on site.  On July 9, 2025, DEP issued an Administrative Order and Assessment of Civil Penalty for the Catawissa Avenue (aka Reach Road) Williamsport facility (see attached materials below). DEP also continues to work through a similar enforcement process for the Standing Stone Bradford County facility.  

​Documents:

• ​DEP order for Eureka's Catawissa Avenue facility (July 9, 2025)
• DEP assessment of civil penalty for Eureka's Catawissa Avenue facility (July 9, 2025)
• DEP administrative order for Eureka's Second Street facility (August 19, 2025)
• DEP inspection report for Eureka's Second Street facility (August 18, 2025, at 9:11 a.m.)
• DEP inspection report for Eureka's Second Street facility (August 19, 2025, at 9:22 a.m.)
• DEP inspection report for Eureka's Second Street facility (August 19, 2025, at 2:39 p.m.)  
• DEP inspection report for Eureka's Second Street facility (August 20, 2025, at 8:39 a.m.)
• DEP inspection report for Eureka's Second Street facility (August 21, 2025, at 10:10 a.m.)