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Preble Resident Remains Unhappy Following DEC Visit

04/19/24


After 5 years of asking for help, Preble resident Frank Holden finally got the DEC to visit his Preble residence on Tuesday, April 9. But after the 90-minute visit, Holden felt he was still at square one.

Regional Oil and Gas Supervisor Paul Giachetti investigated the problem. Holden says Giachetti didn't look at a part of his land where a seismic survey was conducted, and where explosives set off, saying it was too high of a climb.

"I questioned him and the explosion up there. Could it crack the rock to allow the gas to go to my well?" Holden said. "He said, oh, no, it's too far away, and that's not true."

Despite confirming natural gas in Holden's water, Giacometti did not provide Holden with a definitive source of this problem.

"He's telling me a lot of people have gas in their water and they don't ever do anything about it. And you don't really need to. And I have he said it's not going to hurt me," Holden said. "I believe he's wrong."

Giachetti told Holden to apply for a new well to Southern Hills Preservation, who have already turned Holden down four times. After applying again last Friday, Holden still hasn't gotten a response.

Toxics Targeting President Walter Hang said that Holden's visit was not the first time Giachetti did not conduct a thorough review.

"According to the Department of Environmental Conservation's own records, Mr. Giachetti just shows up, tells them, 'Yeah, we know about it. We're not going to remediate it. Maybe we will eventually.' and then he leaves," Hang said.

Hang is calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to resolve Holden's and all other oil and gas extraction problems documented by the DEC's data.

Holden remains at a crossroads with his situation as he still does not know the source and the problem isn't fixed.

Fox 40 has reached out to the DEC asking for statements regarding Giachetti's visit and Holden's situation, but has not heard back yet.