Thursday, January 16, 2014

EPA Texas Case Shows Why PA Needs New Office To Independently Investigate Drilling Complaints

Bloomberg News has a story about EPA relying on the gas company whose practices may have contaminated water wells to perform the water tests central to its investigation. The case is from Texas, involves Range Resources, and is highly controversial. 
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-10/epa-s-reliance-on-driller-data-for-water-irks-homeowners.html.

The regulatory practice of relying on the drilling company who is being investigated for possibly contaminating water wells must come to an end.  These investigations are complex and difficult. They simply cannot be managed appropriately, without fully independent testing of the water.

And so, I have called for a new office in Pennsylvania that will conduct professional, independent testing and investigations of complaints about gas drilling. The EPA should do the same at the federal level.

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