Homeowners Worry After Methane Gas Leak In East Vandergrift

Homeowners in East Vandergrift fear the reopening of a nearby gas drilling operation will lead to more methane gas leaking in their neighborhood.

The operation shut down in May when the gas started leaking from what was believed to be an abandoned well.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced last month that Apollo-based Gas and Oil Company could once again reopen the well.

Mayor Dion Urban, who lives near the drilling site, and other neighbors fear the another leak, even though the DEP has assured them the well is safe.

Laura Poskus lives across the street from where Gas and Oil Co. has put in vents to clear the methane.

The DEP installed an alarm as well as equipment in front of her sidewalk to monitor if methane is seeping out.

The mayor wants the well to be permanently sealed.