The Tunnelton Liquids Company was created by PADEP in 1997 to clean an abandoned mine in the area. For a time, it also cleaned Marcellus Shale wastewater from nearby wells, which made up approximately 75% of its business. Tunnelton LC was among the plants investigated by PADEP in 2011 for contamination, and was asked to stop taking unauthorized Marcellus Shale wastewater until it met the higher EPA standards for runoff. Tunnelton LC was located in Conemaugh Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania and discharged treated effluent to the Conemaugh River. The permits surrounding Tunnelton LC's waste treatment included typical municipal waste and industrial waste (with a limit at 61,000 gpd and that Tunnelton LC will cease discharge if the Conemaugh River hits a certain level of cubic feet per minute), but did not include oil and gas waste or fracturing fluid waste, which it was not equipped to handle. In April 2014, Tunnelton LC closed its doors and shut down, leaving its facilities and large amounts of untreated brines and sludges for the DEP to clean up after claiming it was DEP inaction that caused them to close after the 2011 sanctions were put into place, limiting their business.

The DEP implemented a Hazardous Site Cleanup in June and July of 2014, describing the site with language such as:

The Department believes that at the Site there is an imminent threat to the environment because of the potential for an uncontrolled release of untreated water and sludge to the river from the raw water pond. In addition, residue in parts of the treatment facility may contain hazardous substances and exposure to these substances creates a potential threat to persons coming into contact with these areas.

During discussion and implementation of the cleanup, opinions and concerns from neighboring residents of Tunnelton and Saltsburg, PA were requested and acknowledged.