Marcellus Shale Press Coverage

Steuben County is home to 619 unplugged and abandoned gas, oil and other wells that are a threat to public health and safety, according to the head of an Ithaca-based environmental database firm.

Another 41 of these wells are in Chemung County, 46 in Tompkins County, 11 in Broome County and seven in Tioga County, said Walter Hang, president of Toxics Targeting Inc.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Anti-fracking groups say they have new, documented proof that shows New York State isn't ready for high-volume hydrofracking.

Toxics Targeting, an Ithaca-based environmental group, gathered with elected officials in Binghamton Wednesday afternoon to present information from DEC reports that it says illustrates lack of preparedness for extensive natural gas drilling.

There are allegations that the State Department of Environmental Conservation has breached the public trust.

Those harsh words come from the President of the environmental database firm in Ithaca called Toxics Targeting. Walter Hang says an extensive review of the DEC Mineral Resources annual reports shows that the agency has failed to protect the environment and people from some past gas drilling. Hang says the DEC has allowed improper gas and oil regulation for decades. Allegations include the DEC failing to do enough to protect water supplies and allowing billions of gallons of contaminated production brine to be put in lagoons, pits, streams and on roads without treating it first to remove chemicals. Hang also says that decades ago the DEC identified thousands of unplugged gas wells, but has allowed them to remain.