In an about-face, the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday withdrew its 15-month-old emergency order against Range Resources that had blamed the Fort Worth-based drilling company for methane contamination in water wells and demanded that the company supply safe drinking water to two Parker County homes.
"Range is very pleased to see that the EPA's order in Parker County has been withdrawn," said Range spokesman Matt Pitzarella. "It's important for people to know that their environment, health and safety is protected and hopefully this provides them with that comfort."
The company said the withdrawal could help its $4.2 million defamation suit that it's pursuing against Steve and Shyla Lipsky, residents of Parker County's Lake Country Acres subdivision.
Range lodged a counter-claim against the Lipskys after the couple filed a $6.5 million lawsuit, alleging Range's gas drilling activity contaminated their drinking water. But a state district judge dismissed the Lipskys' suit in January, and later said Steve Lipsky together with his environmental consultant had created a "deceptive video" of a methane-spewing water well.
The EPA did not make clear if its technical staff had reversed its views on the cause of methane contamination, which prompted the Dec. 7, 2010, emergency order.
"Resolving the lawsuits with Range allows EPA to shift the agency's focus in this particular case away from litigation and toward a joint effort on the science and safety of energy extraction," said Jennah Durant, a Dallas-based EPA spokeswoman, via e-mail. "EPA and Range will share scientific data and conduct further well monitoring in the area, and Range will also provide useful information and access to EPA in support of EPA's scientific inquiry into the potential impacts of energy extraction on drinking water."
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/03/30/3848079/epa-drops-action-against-range.html
"Range is very pleased to see that the EPA's order in Parker County has been withdrawn," said Range spokesman Matt Pitzarella. "It's important for people to know that their environment, health and safety is protected and hopefully this provides them with that comfort."
The company said the withdrawal could help its $4.2 million defamation suit that it's pursuing against Steve and Shyla Lipsky, residents of Parker County's Lake Country Acres subdivision.
Range lodged a counter-claim against the Lipskys after the couple filed a $6.5 million lawsuit, alleging Range's gas drilling activity contaminated their drinking water. But a state district judge dismissed the Lipskys' suit in January, and later said Steve Lipsky together with his environmental consultant had created a "deceptive video" of a methane-spewing water well.
The EPA did not make clear if its technical staff had reversed its views on the cause of methane contamination, which prompted the Dec. 7, 2010, emergency order.
"Resolving the lawsuits with Range allows EPA to shift the agency's focus in this particular case away from litigation and toward a joint effort on the science and safety of energy extraction," said Jennah Durant, a Dallas-based EPA spokeswoman, via e-mail. "EPA and Range will share scientific data and conduct further well monitoring in the area, and Range will also provide useful information and access to EPA in support of EPA's scientific inquiry into the potential impacts of energy extraction on drinking water."
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/03/30/3848079/epa-drops-action-against-range.html
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