NY Files Show 270 Drilling Accidents in Past 30 Years

"The [NY] state's depiction of a clean, tightly regulated natural gas industry just got a shot of muck in the eye.

As the debate over the merits of Marcellus Shale development reaches a crescendo, an Ithaca researcher has culled a list of 270 files documenting wastewater spills, well contamination, explosions, methane migration and ecological damage related to gas production in the state since 1979.

Walter Hang, president of Toxic Targeting, compiled the files using the Department of Environmental Conservation's own hazard substances spills database.

Hang runs an environmental research firm that sells data to interested parties, including engineers, consultants and municipalities. He also has a background as an environmental advocate, and he relishes the role as a public watchdog."

Tom Wilber reports for the Elmira Star Gazette November 8, 2009.

See Also:

"Pennsylvania Lawsuit Says Drilling Polluted Water" (Reuters)