Posted by: Noel Jones
New York residents stood up to Big Gas, wrote and called their elected officials, and got their moratorium. It's Pennsylvania's turn. Don't listen to anyone telling you that it unrealistic to ask for a state-wide moratorium on new natural gas drilling until environmental studies can determine best safety practices to protect millions of Pennsylvanians from contaminated drinking water. Use the links on the right side bar of this blog's home page to get in touch with your state representatives and senators TODAY. This is all being decided in our state capitol "as we speak."
Don't believe those who say we must drill right away to create jobs in PA. Most of these jobs are going to out of state workers shipped in for the drilling.
Don't believe those who say we must drill to reduce our dependence on foreign oil--52% of natural gas produced is used to create plastic. Another large percentage is used to create fertilizer.
Drilling in the Marcellus Shale is not about energy independence or creating jobs for us. It is about make THEM rich. Period.
It will destroy our clean drinking water so badly that we will not be able to cook, bathe or drink without BUYING bottled water in big tanks. This is what has happened just 2 hours north of us in Dimock, PA. It will destroy our property values because no one wants to live like that, so who would ever want to buy your house?
It is time to FIGHT OR DIE (of cancer). Xylene and benzene are just two of the carcinogens in the 596 known chemicals that Big Gas is leaking into PA resident's water tables, rivers and wells. Thousands of new permits near our water source, the Delaware river, are waiting for the green light in Harrisburg. These people do NOT care about us, they care about getting rich. Please watch this video, call your representatives and senators, and write letters to the editors of our local papers ASAP!
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For those who like to dig deeper (excuse the pun) into the hard facts, this link might interest you:
http://www.earthworksaction.org/pubs/DrinkingWaterAtRisk.pdf
Coincidentally, Mark Ruffalo was a guest on Rachel Maddow's show on MSNBC last night, talking about the dangers of hydrofracking. This is the first time I've seen the issue discussed on MSNBC, and Rachel Maddow, seemed almost stunned to hear that there are 30,000 wells awaiting the green light on their permits in PA. Hopefully that shock will lead to further coverage on the network.
According to a disturbing report by Maya van Rossum of the Delaware Riverkeeper, The Army Corps of Engineers is acting as a "rogue agency" helping to speed natural gas drilling permits through the Delaware River Basin Commission. Her report includes a letter from Congressman Maurice Hinchey to Brigadier General Peter A. DeLuca:
Congressman Hinchey replied to the Army Corp’s letter on September 30. In a strong rebuff of the Corp’s errant actions, Congressman Hinchey cited the underlying regulations that created and guide the DRBC and challenged the Corps with several questions. The text of his letter follows.
September 30, 2010
Brigadier General Peter A. DeLuca
Commander and Division Engineer, North Atlantic Division
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
302 General Lee Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11252
Dear General DeLuca:
Thank you for your prompt response to my recent letter regarding regulations for gas exploration and drilling in the Delaware River Basin. While I appreciate learning your views on this matter, your letter raises very serious and troubling questions about the role of the Delaware River Basin Commission’s (DRBC) federal representative, how the views of other federal agency partners are represented at the DRBC, and the obligations of the DRBC to protect one of our country’s largest sources of drinking water.
In the recent letter, you note, “The federal family of agencies that I represent on the commission are collectively charged with a requirement to support the economic needs of the region and our nation’s need
energy reserves?”
What is the legal basis, be that statutory or regulatory, on which you based your statement: “This balancing [environmental protection to proceed together with economic development] was an underlying reason for the creation of the Commission?”
How have you complied with your agency’s environmental review requirements and other responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act?
Did you, or anyone in your agency, conduct any environmental reviews on the cumulative impact of gas drilling on the Delaware River Basin’s water quality, drinking water supplies, or fish and wildlife?
Did your agency conduct any analysis of the potential negative economic consequences of gas drilling to other sectors of the economy, including tourism, recreation, second home construction, and agriculture?
How did you incorporate the views of other federal agencies before making a decision to approve a water withdrawal for gas drilling (Stone Energy Docket D-2009-01301, approved 7.14.10) and to support the “grandfather” exceptions to the Supplemental Executive Director Determination for a number of exploratory wells?
Did you consult with other federal agencies prior to drafting and sending your response to my letter?
Was your response to my letter approved by any superior officers at the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Army, or senior administration officials before it was sent?
Can you provide the schedule that shows that “several public hearings as well as a written comment period sometime later in the calendar year” have been arranged to address drilling in the Delaware River Basin?
I look forward to your timely response.
Sincerely,
Maurice D. Hinchey
GREAT NEWS: The documentary GASLAND will be shown at Lafayette College!
GASLAND
Wed, Oct. 13th
7-10 PM, in Kirby Hall 104.
The showing is FREE and open to the public. Please spread the word!
This film provides the "unvarnished truth" about what has occurred in the "mad rush" to take advantage of the natural gas resources.
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