Fracking Rights Reinstated for Pa. Drilling Company as it Strikes a Plea Deal for Past Environmental Crimes

On the same day Corterra Energy pleaded no contest to charges related to environmental crimes, and agreed to pay $16.29 million toward the construction of new and regulated public water lines in Dimock, the Department of Environmental Protection quietly lifted its long-term moratorium on gas production in the small village in northeastern Pennsylvania.

One of Pennsylvania’s largest drillers will be allowed to extract natural gas from underneath a rural Susquehanna County community where it has been banned for a dozen years because of accusations it polluted the water supply, according to a settlement with state regulators.

One the same day Houston-based Corterra Energy pleaded no contest to charges related to environmental crimes, and agreed to pay $16.29 million toward the construction of new and regulated public water lines in the village of Dimock, the Department of Environmental Protection quietly lifted its long-term moratorium on gas production in the small village in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Corterra had been banned from fracking in the Dimock region since 2010 when the village became synonymous with anti-fracking movements worldwide due to a high profile methane leak caused by the Cabot Oil & Gas Corp., Corterra’s predecessor. The leak prompted viral stories and videos of people lighting their tap water on fire

State officials have denied that the plea deal and reinstatement of fracking rights were connected to each other. 

State Attorney General and Governor-elect Josh Shapiro appeared onstage with Dimock residents when the plea deal was announced Nov. 29, but punted any questions about whether fracking would continue in the banned area to the current governor, Tom Wolf. “Our office plays no role in DEP’s regulatory decisions and we do not share confidential information about criminal investigations,” said Jacklin Rhoads, Shapiro’s communication director.

In an interview, Wolf remarked that he was satisfied with his administration’s decision to allow Coterra to go back into Dimock, “as long as they do what we need them to do with the new water supply and the pipes.”

For their part, many Dimock residents feel betrayed. “We got played,” said Ray Kemble, the most outspoken of a small group of Dimock residents who have battled the drilling company and state regulators alike.

Pennsylvania is the nation’s No. 2 gas-producing state after Texas, and Susquehanna County produces more natural gas than any other county in the state.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.