July 2, 2010
 

Pennsylvania quarantines potentially contaminated cattle
 

The state agriculture department has quarantined 28 heads of cattle at a central Pennsylvanian farm after officials said the animals potentially consumed wastewater that leaked from a holding pond for a natural gas well on the property.

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said Thursday (July 1) that uncertainty over how much water the cows drank warranted the quarantine to protect the public from eating potentially contaminated beef.

The quarantine covered the 28 cows, plus their unborn calves on the farm in Wellsboro. East Resources was drilling the well.

An East spokesman said agriculture officials may have overreacted and that tests done at the request of state environmental officials found no reason for adverse impact on the cattle, or on public health.