Due to recent articles published by the Scranton Times-Tribune and Bloomberg, we have realized how much misinformation is currently being touted as fact when it comes to the Dimock area. Cabot would like to take this opportunity to lay the facts about this topic on the table and to encourage a conversation based on science, not hearsay. Over the next few weeks, we will run posts from geologists, water quality scientists and other experts as part of our continuing mission to be as transparent as possible.
Today’s post is contributed by George Stark, Director of External Affairs, in response to this Times-Tribune article.[vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading text=”” font_container=”tag:h4|font_size:28px|text_align:left|line_height:30px” google_fonts=”font_family:PT%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]
This past week the Scranton Times-Tribune published a story centered on year-old emails generated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as its staff considered their approach to water sampling in Dimock.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]So what do the emails reveal?  Not much.  There is no new information, nor does it change EPA’s or the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) findings with respect to water quality in the Dimock area.  (Both agencies have found that the water meets federal standards).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]What the emails DO show is the normal intra-agency debate and discussion prior to EPA launching its investigation.  EPA did subsequently decide to undertake an investigation of several drinking water wells in the Dimock area in early 2012.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]And the result? After several rounds of sampling at the private drinking water wells in Dimock, the agency announced that the levels of contaminants found do not pose a threat to human health and the environment and that it had no further plans to conduct additional drinking water sampling in the area.  Moreover, as a result of the investigation, EPA announced that it was ‘no longer necessary to provide residents with alternative water.’[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]The results were not surprising – EPA’s findings were consistent with thousands of pages of water quality data previously accumulated by state and local authorities and by Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation. And these have been available online since October 2011.
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Adding a bit of spice to an old story does not recreate it as new. The water in the Dimock area has been declared safe for consumption by three separate organizations: Cabot, the DEP and the EPA. We will continue to cooperate with federal, state and local officials in using the best and most accurate science to address any public concerns.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]