Druggies with drills

Here's a reprint from the Times-Tribune of Scranton.

The link was provided to me by none other than Kayak Dude. Think about this before you lease your land to any energy outfit.

Cabot workers fail drug tests
Employees at gas wells tested positive

by jeremy g. burton (staff writer)

Published: December 12, 2009

Contracted workers at natural gas wells in Susquehanna County tested positive this week for using illegal drugs or alcohol on the job, a spokesman for Cabot Oil and Gas Corp. confirmed Friday.

Kenneth Komoroski, a Cabot attorney, said surprise drug tests conducted Tuesday and Wednesday were prompted by an employee who was concerned about the use of drugs and alcohol at well sites in Dimock Twp. Mr. Komoroski said the results are preliminary and would not be final for another two weeks, pending further testing.

He also said he did not know the number of employees who tested positive, or for what substances they tested positive. Cabot has a "zero-tolerance" policy and would terminate anyone found to violate it, Mr. Komoroski said.

Cabot is a Texas-based natural gas operator that has drilled 63 Marcellus Shale wells in Susquehanna County and has permits to drill about 60 more. A group of 15 families filed a lawsuit against the company Nov. 20, alleging Cabot ruined their water supply, polluted their land and endangered their health.

Cabot denies the claims.

Mr. Komoroski said the company responded swiftly when alerted to the drug and alcohol problem just before Thanksgiving, and Cabot routinely drug tests employees.

"These are important issues, very important issues, and it is unacceptable to have workers under the influence working on well sites," he said.

Michael Lebron, a consultant and liaison for the 15 families suing Cabot, expressed doubt that Cabot is committed to the community's well-being. The company, he said, has repeatedly exhibited a "negligent attitude" and an "irresponsibility to the people they've signed leases with."

Cabot takes its responsibilities seriously, Mr. Komoroski said. The company drug-tested every employee in the county, using a third-party firm that brought in drug-sniffing dogs to canvass the wells, he said.

Neither state police nor local authorities were involved in the internal investigation, Mr. Komoroski said.

When asked Friday about possible drug arrests involving gas well workers, the Susquehanna County district attorney's office said it was unaware of the situation.
tinely drug tests employees.

"These are important issues, very important issues, and it is unacceptable to have workers under the influence working on well sites," he said.

Michael Lebron, a consultant and liaison for the 15 families suing Cabot, expressed doubt that Cabot is committed to the community's well-being. The company, he said, has repeatedly exhibited a "negligent attitude" and an "irresponsibility to the people they've signed leases with."

Cabot takes its responsibilities seriously, Mr. Komoroski said. The company drug-tested every employee in the county, using a third-party firm that brought in drug-sniffing dogs to canvass the wells, he said.

Neither state police nor local authorities were involved in the internal investigation, Mr. Komoroski said.

When asked Friday about possible drug arrests involving gas well workers, the Susquehanna County district attorney's office said it was unaware of the situation.

Contact the writer: jburton@timesshamrock.com