By Henry W. and Pat C.
More than 8000 gallons of chemical-laced fracing fluid from a gas drilling site in Dimock, Pa. poured into nearby Stevens Creek on Thursday, September 24. This was the third chemical spill within nine days to occur in Dimock as a result of hydraulic fracturing.
DEP officials have ordered Cabot Oil & Gas, one of the leading gas drilling companies in the area, to stop drilling at all seven of the company’s wells until further notice.
The spill was a result of a closed valve along the pipeline, which allowed the high pressure from hydraulic fracturing to build up. The valve was blown out, sending fracing fluids that may contain as many as 245 toxic chemicals pouring into the area.
Cabot is expected to run tests in the area to ensure the safety of residents in Susquehanna Township and won’t resume operations until tests are complete.
Pennsylvania officials have given Cabot Oil & Gas two to three weeks to post an accurate Pollution Prevention and Contingency Plan as well as a Control and Disposal plan. This will allow the state to perform a study of the company’s equipment and fracing process.
A group of journalists from The Family Times drove to Dimock over the weekend following the latest incident to gather more information on the spills.
The reporters found multiple gas pads that were not presently being frac-ed, one active drilling site, and a number of sites that were posted and restricted. The sites that were capped off still had remnants of recent drilling action including an open evaporating disposal pit which was filling up as a result of recent heavy rains.
As the group drove the back roads leading to the various drilling sites, they began to experience headaches, dizziness and irritation in their eyes, nose, and mouth, which they believed were caused by the fracing chemicals in the surrounding soil and air.
