Range Resources, an energy company based out of Texas, is being hit with a record fine of $8.9 million for their alleged contamination of private water supplies in Pennsylvania.
Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Quigley said, “Clean water is an important part of a strong economy and Range Resources owes it to the people of Lycoming County and surrounding areas to make the repairs necessary to immediately stop the discharge of natural gas to the waters.”
Range Resources has faced fines in the past over their drilling procedures, to date those fines have totaled roughly $5.5 million, according to WTAE 4 Pittsburgh.
The company issued a statement on Tuesday, denying any wrongdoing, “We believe we’ve complied with DEP’s requests and while we have a disagreement about this situation, we are very confident in the mechanical integrity of the well and we are equally confident that the environment and community is not at risk,” as reported by Penn Live. Range Resources is currently in the process of appealing,
Quigley pushed back against Range Resources by saying, “We wouldn’t assess this severe penalty if we were not confident the well was the source of the pollution.”
PowerSource reports, that along with the fine Range Resources will be required to repair the casing surrounding the well which is causing the leaking gas.