Families in Susquehanna County are suing a natural gas drilling company.
Fifteen families initially signed on to gas drilling plans with hopes for a bright financial future but now they say they are fed up with one drilling company.
About 50 people came together in Susquehanna County, only a few hundred feet from a drilling platform, to announce their lawsuit against Cabot Oil and Gas Corporation.
"There are elderly people involved, children involved. These are people of modest, modest means who have been snookered by Cabot," said Leslie Lewis, a lawyer for the group.
The Carter Fifteen, as they're calling themselves, claim Cabot polluted their water through mismanaged drilling and is now refusing to clean up the mess.
Pat Farnelli said her eight children get sick after drinking well water that used to be clean. "They have thrown up after drinking water a number of times. One of them especially throws up. The other ones often get really bad stomach cramps," she said.
Cabot has installed several temporary vents on water wells in the area to help vent the methane gas that is potentially in the water system. One resident had her water well explode in January. Norma Fiorentino, owner of the blown-out well, is now part of the lawsuit.
"I asked for water after my well exploded. They shut it down because there was 100 percent gas in it. Cabot did nothing to help. I called them and begged for water," Fiorentino said.
Newswatch 16 contacted Cabot Drilling for comment on the issue.
"Cabot has entered into a consent order and agreement with the DEP that provides further assurance that it's activities are conducted in full compliance with the DEP administered environmental protection laws," said Ken Komoroski, public relations director for Cabot.
The company signed the consent order earlier this month, promising to take steps to avoid such problems from happening in the future.
Lawyers for the residents said they are looking to get more than $75,000 for each person affected by what they call toxic exposure.
Fifteen families initially signed on to gas drilling plans with hopes for a bright financial future but now they say they are fed up with one drilling company.
About 50 people came together in Susquehanna County, only a few hundred feet from a drilling platform, to announce their lawsuit against Cabot Oil and Gas Corporation.
"There are elderly people involved, children involved. These are people of modest, modest means who have been snookered by Cabot," said Leslie Lewis, a lawyer for the group.
The Carter Fifteen, as they're calling themselves, claim Cabot polluted their water through mismanaged drilling and is now refusing to clean up the mess.
Pat Farnelli said her eight children get sick after drinking well water that used to be clean. "They have thrown up after drinking water a number of times. One of them especially throws up. The other ones often get really bad stomach cramps," she said.
Cabot has installed several temporary vents on water wells in the area to help vent the methane gas that is potentially in the water system. One resident had her water well explode in January. Norma Fiorentino, owner of the blown-out well, is now part of the lawsuit.
"I asked for water after my well exploded. They shut it down because there was 100 percent gas in it. Cabot did nothing to help. I called them and begged for water," Fiorentino said.
Newswatch 16 contacted Cabot Drilling for comment on the issue.
"Cabot has entered into a consent order and agreement with the DEP that provides further assurance that it's activities are conducted in full compliance with the DEP administered environmental protection laws," said Ken Komoroski, public relations director for Cabot.
The company signed the consent order earlier this month, promising to take steps to avoid such problems from happening in the future.
Lawyers for the residents said they are looking to get more than $75,000 for each person affected by what they call toxic exposure.
