Residents at Pa. hearing tell EPA natural gas drilling technique is poisoning their water

Residents tell EPA Pa. gas drilling poisons water

CANONSBURG, Pa. — Some of the dozens of people speaking at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hearing in southwestern Pennsylvania say a natural gas drilling technique that involves pumping chemical-laced water deep into the earth has poisoned them or their well water.

Drilling into the rich Marcellus Shale gas reserve primarily beneath Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia is growing rapidly, and the oil and gas industry says hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has been proven safe for decades.

Fracking is currently exempt from federal regulation and is governed by states. Thursday’s hearing is a part of the EPA’s study of fracking’s effect on drinking water.

Many speakers urged a stop to it or strong, new federal rules. Industry representatives say it’s a crucial tool in the nation’s energy future and state regulation is adequate.