Chesapeake Energy Abandons Plans to Drill in NYC Watershed

New York, NY —

An energy company is giving up its plans to drill near the city's upstate reservoirs, citing concerns over the safety of drinking water. WNYC's Ilya Marritz has more.

Oklahoma-based Chesapeake Energy has thousands of acres under lease within the New York City watershed. But in an interview with The New York Times, company CEO Aubrey MacLendon said opposition to drilling from elected officials and environmentalists has become too much of a headache.

"Why go through the brain damage of that," he told the Times, "When there are so many other opportunities?"

Clean water campaigners are applauding Chesapeake's move. But they say action is needed from the state to permanently protect the watershed from all future natural gas drilling.

For WNYC, I'm Ilya Marritz.