Pennsylvania, for the first time, after years of legal battles with news outlets, released details of 248 cases where oil and gas drilling and related activities ruined private water wells

Pa. releases list of wells impacted by drilling by Kevin Begos and Michael Rubinkam, August 28, 2014, Associated Press in WFMJ

Six years into a natural gas boom, Pennsylvania has for the first time released details of 248 cases where oil or gas drilling and related activities ruined private drinking water wells.

[What about the incessant promise that the oil and gas industry has never harmed tap water because of their “best practices” and “best in the world regulations?”]

The Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday released links to the documents. The Associated Press and other news outlets have waged legal battles for several years seeking the records. The DEP had never previously released a comprehensive list to the public.

The cases date from 2008 to 2014 and include some where drilling impacted multiple water wells. The problems included methane gas contamination, spills of wastewater, and wells that went dry. The records show that some of the problems were temporary.

The Marcellus Shale Coalition, the main industry group, says drillers strive for zero incidents. [Striving isn’t good enough for drinking water]

The List (includes links to the (redacted) reports, which name companies)

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