Cabot allowed to resume fracking in Dimock Twp.

Pennsylvania environmental officials have given permission to a gas driller to resume hydraulic fracturing in a village where residents say their well water was polluted four years ago.

The Department of Environmental Protection says Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. has met its obligations under a 2010 consent agreement and will be permitted to frack seven previously drilled wells in Dimock Township.

Dimock residents say that Cabot polluted their water supply with methane gas and toxic chemicals.

State regulators had previously blamed the Houston-based driller for elevated levels of methane in the aquifer and banned it from drilling and fracking in a 9-square-mile area.

DEP has not yet cleared Cabot to resume drilling any new wells in the area, but says it may begin producing gas from the seven existing wells.