The agency is expected to take at least three weeks to sample all the homes.
In addition, EPA is taking action to ensure delivery of temporary water supplies to four homes where data reviewed by EPA indicates that residents’ well water contains levels of contaminants that pose a health concern.
EPA will reevaluate this decision when it completes sampling of the wells at these four homes.
At the direction of the government and separate from this limited sampling, EPA has begun a national study on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources.
EPA regional administrator Shawn Garvin said the agency is working diligently to understand the situation in Dimock and address residents’ concerns.
"We believe that the information provided to us by the residents deserves further review, and conducting our own sampling will help us fill information gaps," Garvin said.
"Our actions will be based on the science and the law and we will work to help get a more complete picture of water quality for these homes in Dimock."
EPA’s decision to conduct sampling is based on EPA’s review of data provided by residents, Cabot Oil and Gas, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
