HOUSTON -- More than 80 environmental groups are demanding a broad investigation of whether the Environmental Protection Agency behaved improperly when it abruptly dropped enforcement actions against Fort Worth-based Range Resources, which the agency had accused of contaminating well water in Parker County.
The 86 groups demand in a letter Monday to the EPA's inspector general, Arthur Elkins, that he widen an existing investigation of the agency's actions. They cited an Associated Press report in January that indicated that the agency had an unreleased report linking Range's drilling operations to water contamination at two homes outside Weatherford.In December 2010, the EPA issued an emergency order directing Range to identify the source of the gas in the water wells and take other corrective actions. Range said its wells did not contaminate the water.Four months later, the Texas Railroad Commission agreed with the company, and the EPA withdrew its order in March 2011.Range spokesman Matt Pitzarella told the Star-Telegram in January that the report obtained by AP is incomplete.This report includes material from the Star-Telegram archives.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
