XTO Energy Fights Criminal Charges in Wastewater Spill Case
Kathleen Kane is being accused of selective prosecution to support an anti-drilling agenda |
XTO Energy Inc. is seeking the dismissal of criminal charges for a 2010 gas-drilling spill, saying Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane selectively prosecuted the company in pursuit of a politically motivated anti-fracking agenda.
The Exxon Mobil subsidiary filed a motion in Lycoming County Court on Monday arguing that the Office of Attorney General had failed to prove a criminal case against it in connection with the spill of about 50,000 gallons of wastewater at a Marcellus Shale drilling site.
The natural-gas producer, based in Fort Worth, Texas, also argues that Kane's office is prosecuting XTO even though the company remediated the spill and agreed to a $100,000 settlement to resolve federal civil claims. XTO says more serious environmental violations have not drawn the same level of prosecution or publicity from Kane.You can read the rest of this article by clicking here.
Following on the heels of the story we mentioned the other day in which Minuteman Environmental Services also called out Kane for her tactics towards their business, a picture of an attorney general who is using the power of her office to forward an anti-fracking agenda is forming.
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