SCRANTON - An energy company is on track to drill the first natural gas production wells in northeastern Pennsylvania's Wayne County.
Drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation is banned in nearly all of the county because it lies within the Delaware River watershed. The Delaware River Basin Commission recently declared a moratorium on drilling in the watershed, citing concerns that it will threaten drinking water supplies.
But Hess Corp. has permits either pending or recently approved for at least six wells along Wayne County's northwestern border, just outside the watershed boundary.
