Residents of the tiny crossroads of
Under a plea deal entered in
“After more than decade of denials, of shirking responsibility and accountability, Coterra pleaded to their crime, and the people of
The plea — the result of years of negotiations between Coterra and the attorney general's office — represents a milestone in one of the most prominent pollution cases ever to emerge from the
Coterra’s corporate predecessor,
The grand jury blasted what it called Cabot’s “long-term indifference to the damage it caused to the environment and citizens of Susquehanna County.”
Cabot, which merged with
Coterra pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of prohibition against discharge of industrial wastes under the state’s Clean Streams Law. The plea means Coterra does not admit guilt but agreed to accept criminal responsibility.
“Coterra has worked closely with the
Many residents have avoided using their well water since the aquifer was contaminated with methane and heavy metals, using bottled water, bulk water purchased commercially, and even water drawn from creeks and artesian wells instead.
“These people had to find very creative ways to get water for their homes, water for their families, their kids, their critters, and it was not pretty,”
Switzer, whose house will be connected to the new water line, called it “wonderful news” — and a long time coming.
Another resident,
“There's so much heartache,” he said.
Residents were informed of the plea deal last week. A public utility,
The settlement comes near the end of Shapiro’s tenure as attorney general.
On Tuesday, Shapiro, a Democrat who will be sworn in as governor in January, pledged more aggressive regulatory oversight of the industry.
"We have to change our regulatory structure here in the commonwealth," Shapiro said. "We have to make sure we are setting clear rules of the road and holding industry accountable. If the regulators fail to do that, then industry is not going to be constrained and they're going to go ahead and put profits before people. And that's where the danger comes in."
Shapiro demurred on the question of whether Coterra would be permitted to resume drilling in a 9-square-mile (23-square-kilometer) area of
The criminal case has not slowed Coterra’s business. It is the leading shale gas driller in the nation’s No. 2 natural gas-producing state.
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