HARRISBURG — Serious consequences await the state's rapidly growing natural gas industry if companies are caught cutting corners of safety measures to pump up profits, Pennsylvania's top environmental regulator warned today.

Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger told a state Senate committee that companies flocking to Pennsylvania to exploit the rich Marcellus Shale natural gas reserve must stop well blowouts, gas migration and water pollution.

He said he has seen examples of negligence and accidents and cited his agency's actions to withhold new permits, stop a company's operations or seal wells when safety is compromised.

"We need this industry to get the message from us that we expect that safety is not going to be sacrificed when those decisions have to be made, and there will be serious consequences" if it is, Hanger said.

Hanger spoke on the heels of two high-profile natural gas well accidents, one in Pennsylvania and one in West Virginia.