Kansas City, Mo. ? Oil companies are leasing mineral rights to thousands of acres in south-central Kansas, where they intend to drill using horizontal hydraulic fracturing, a technique that’s drawn scrutiny from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The companies that have been in Kansas lately include SandRidge Energy, Chesapeake and Shell.

Company representatives met with residents recently and said they intend to using hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to explore oil reserves. The method has been used for decades, but the EPA said recently it found evidence of a possible link between fracking and groundwater contamination in Wyoming.

Oil companies say fracking is safe and measures are taken to ensure groundwater safety.

Kansas State Rep. Vince Wetta, whose district is in south-central Kansas, said the leasing activity could be a potential boost for the area economy.