RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI, Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) — The Texas agency that regulates the state’s oil and gas industry says it’s opened a new investigation of allegations that methane is contaminating North Texas water.
The Texas Railroad Commission move comes after residents complained that university researchers had found high levels of the explosive gas in their water.
Commission spokeswoman Ramona Nye says the investigation began in August and should be completed next month.
Scientist Geoffrey Thyne reviewed water samples taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and gas driller Range Resources. He says he believes the contamination has spread to more wells since he first investigated several years ago, and his preliminary analysis points to a Range Resources well-site as the source.
Range Resources says the methane occurs naturally and it has no evidence implicating its wells.