Residents who voluntarily evacuated their Caddo Parish, LA, homes on Monday after state officials found that natural gas had contaminated private water wells were told Wednesday to stay away at least another day until test results are completed. Natural gas apparently leaked into an aquifer during a drilling test by EXCO Resources Inc. (see Daily GPI, April 21). Officials with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality said the natural gas in the water wells isn’t poisonous, but it could accumulate enough to cause an explosion. EXCO is paying for accommodations for the dislocated residents until they are allowed to return home.

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