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Attorney general files criminal charges against Cabot Oil & Gas

A grand jury recommends the charges based on alleged violations beginning around 2006.

SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office is filing criminal charges against a gas drilling company in our area.

Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Monday the filing of criminal charges against Cabot Oil & Gas related to natural gas wells that Cabot fracked in Dimock Township starting in 2006 or 2007.

A statewide grand jury recommends charging Cabot with seven counts of prohibition against discharge of industrial wastes, seven counts of prohibition against other pollutions, and one count of unlawful conduct under the Clean Streams Law.

"I am here today to remind those fracking companies that the people of Pennsylvania come first. Our right to clean air and pure water comes first," SAID Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro as he announced the criminal charges listed in the grand jury's two -ear investigation into the contamination of well water in Dimock.

The investigation alleges that Cabot's fracking activities were responsible for methane pollution in the local water supply.

"They didn't test their samples so that there would be no proof that they were contaminating nearby water supplies," Shapiro claimed.

It's been over a decade since residents in parts of Dimock Township have been forced to drink bottled water. Several Dimock residents may have suffered from the environmental hazards associated with repeated methane exposure.

Norma Fiorentino used to live on Carter Road. Her well exploded in January of 2009 from the buildup of methane.

In 2016, several families filed a lawsuit against Cabot in federal court, saying the water was contaminated and undrinkable. Originally, they won the lawsuit before another judge turned over the ruling.

Many families have long since moved out, and some of the houses were torn down.

William Horn has lived on Carter Road in Dimock for the past 15 years and has a fracking pad in his backyard. He said he's still living in a nightmare raising his children on bottled water.

"It doesn't feel normal, but it's something we adapted to. I would like to be able to have a glass of water from the sink, but that ain't happening."

A spokesman from Cabot sent us a statement in response to the charges.

"Today, Cabot was made aware of charges filed against the company. This is the first time we are seeing the charges and we will respond once we have fully reviewed them.  Cabot is a leader in the energy industry and we value community commitment and environmental compliance. Cabot will continue to work constructively with regulators, political representatives, and most importantly our neighbors in Pennsylvania to be responsible stewards of natural resources and the environment."

Read the full grand jury presentment here.

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