PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Residents of a small northeastern Pennsylvania town at the center of the political fight over natural gas drilling are disappointed that they traveled to Philadelphia but did not get to make their case directly to the head of the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
A handful of residents of Dimock (DIH’-muhk) joined about four dozen environmental activists Friday to protest well water contamination that came after natural gas drilling began in the Susquehanna County town in 2008.
The residents want the federal government to truck in fresh water. The EPA last week agreed to do so but reversed course within 24 hours.
The protesters are hoping the federal government will be their ally on an issue they believe state officials are ignoring.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson left the forum at Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences before protesters could talk to her.
