FRANKLIN TWP — The state Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday ordered XTO Energy to stop all earth work for the Cratty Unit Project for gas wells in the township.

XTO this year requested two separate times to begin the project, which would include drilling unconventional gas wells and constructing related facilities on 90 acres owned by James Cratty on Election House Road.

In both applications, the company only defined the project to include activities at the well site. XTO did not indicate that it planned to do earth work at the intersection of Election House Road and West Old Route 422 to create a truck access area, according to a DEP news release.

Recently, XTO told the DEP that the construction of a truck area was necessary for large trucks to access the well site. However, DEP inspectors determined that the company already had begun work at the truck area without a permit or other authorization from the department.

“XTO’s failure to obtain proper authorization before commencing earth disturbance activities at the truck area portion of the Cratty Unit Project violated state regulation and created a danger of pollution to the waters of the commonwealth,” said Scott Perry, DEP Deputy Secretary for the Office of Oil and Gas Management, in a release.

The order requires XTO to immediately stop all earth work with the project, except those activities necessary to stabilize the area, until it has obtained all required permits and authorizations.

DEP said that within five days XTO must seed, mulch and/or take any other actions to protect from accelerated erosion and sedimentation in all areas that have been impacted.

In a statement, XTO said the company “is in the process of securing the location and shutting down operations on the Cratty well site. The company believes it applied for and received all the necessary permits to construct the location.

“The company is evaluating this order from (DEP) and is working cooperatively with local officials and regulatory authorities.”