UPDATE: ANTERO ISSUES CAUSE STATEMENT THAT KILLED TWO AT DODDRIDGE DRILLING SITE - EPA Says Drilling Can Resume

(08/10/2013)

A flash fire in the area of a contractor's pump ignited fumes from natural gas drilling wastewater, fueling two explosions that left two dead at a Doddridge County natural gas production site, Antero Resources says in an additional report given to WV-DEP. WV-EPA says Antero Resources can resume operations at the Doddridge County gas-drilling site. In the report, Antero gave witness statements and some physical evidence that company officials believe support its theory about how the explosion happened. A Roane County man, Tommy Paxton, 45, of Walton and Jason Mearns, 37, of Beverly, died in the Pittsburgh Burn Center, reports indicating three others are being treated at the facility. DEP Office of Oil and Gas Chief James Martin ordered Denver-based Antero to provide more information about the company's findings after the company submitted a two-page letter with few details. Antero has been previously cited with several violations.

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