Major fracking spill happening now in Pennsylvania

http://www.grist.org/natural-gas/2011-04-20-major-fracking-spill-happening-now-in-pennsylvania

BY TOM LASKAWY
20 APR 2011 2:14 PM

We have the makings of an environmental disaster in northern Pennsylvania at the moment. According to local Pennsylvania television station WNEP, a natural-gas well blew out in the middle of the night while crews were engaged in "fracking" activities:

Bradford County's director of public safety said a Chesapeake well went out of control late Tuesday night. That means the well blew near the surface, spilling thousands and thousands of gallons of frack fluid over containment walls, through fields, personal property and farms, even where cattle continue to graze.

DEP is taking ground water and stream samples to determine the extent of the spill.

Officials said fluids from the well have, in fact, contaminated Towanda Creek which feeds into the Susquehanna River.

No injuries have been reported, but officials have evacuated the surrounding area as a precaution. A "major operation" is under way to kill the well and stop the flow, which, as of 1:50 p.m. ET, was still uncontrolled.


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