NYDailyNews.com

ALBANY — Thousands of contaminated sites left by oil giant ExxonMobil and its predecessor companies have not been cleaned up because of lax action by state regulators, a new report claims.

The feds are backing City Hall's battle to stop the state from drilling for natural gas near precious upstate water reserves.

The city Department of Environmental Protection fears the drilling in the energy-rich Marcellus Shale Formation could unleash toxic chemicals in the drinking water.

The Environmental Protection Agency's ruling pressures Gov. Paterson to reverse course.