Driller says EPA cherry-picking data in probe

Driller says EPA cherry-picking data in probe

DIMOCK, Pa. (AP) — A natural gas driller says the Environmental Protection Agency is cherry-picking the data used to justify testing of dozens of residential water wells in a northeastern Pennsylvania town at the center of a political fight over water contamination.

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. says regulators also misinterpreted water quality tests in justifying an investigation into water quality in Dimock.

The Times-Tribune of Scranton reports the company’s statement Tuesday say there are no health concerns related to the wells being tested by the EPA. Earlier this month the agency began delivering replacement drinking water to four homes where owners complain Cabot tainted their wells with methane and toxic drilling chemicals.

Cabot provided replacement water to those homes and others under a consent order but stopped after the state said the company had met its obligations. It denies polluting the water.