The following article was published in the Observer-Reporter on October 3, 2024 in response to a series of articles being published by the newspaper on the 20th anniversary of shale gas fracking in Washington County, specifically the first article-- Shale Revolution: A Look Back At 20 Years of Gas Drilling In The Region.
Rick Shrum [author of the article] should have gotten both sides for his story “‘Shale Revolution’: A look back at 20 years of gas drilling in the region,” in the Sept. 22 edition.
Speaking with Mount Pleasant Township residents who have been negatively impacted by shale gas development would have painted a different picture.
From the beginning of the boom, residents have been misled. Representatives of oil and gas companies pressed leases on farmers, telling them that fracking was harmless.
When the community began to see and question harms, nuisances, and decreased property values, Range Resources pushed back, using intimidation tactics.
They sent letters to Mount Pleasant Township leaseholders threatening to pull out of the township.
Elected officials were pressured to remove protective ordinances that industry felt hindered fracking activity.
Locals trying to object to activity were not granted standing in their own community.
The industry effectively divided the township.
Over the past 20 years, cancer incidents in students in the Fort Cherry School District living near fracking facilities have made headlines.
Residents’ contaminated water and land and their exposure to benzene from shale operations were reported on.
Containers labeled with radioactive waste sat on properties in the township.
Property values near shale development have decreased.
A study from the University of Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania Department of Health showed ill effects from the industry.
And yet, residents continue to fight to have the industry abide by Mount Pleasant Township ordinances.
Focusing on the Chamber of Commerce’s view of economic prosperity does not show the industry’s threat to Mount Pleasant Township’s right to clean air, water and the preservation of the environment’s natural value.
Shrum’s article is one-sided.
Cathy Lodge, Bulger
Observer-Reporter Series:
-- Observer-Reporter: ‘Amity And Prosperity’ Book By Eliza Griswold Thrust Fracking [And Its Environmental & Health Impacts In] Washington County, Into National Spotlight [PDF of Article] [Part 5]
-- Observer-Reporter: 20 Years On, Fracking’s Potential Health Impacts Eyed [PDF of Article] [Part 4]
-- Observer-Reporter: Marcellus Shale Has Wealth Of Natural Gas And More [Royalty Payments, Act 13 Drilling Impact Fees] [PDF of Article] [Part 3]
-- Observer-Reporter: Local Officials Have Had To Grapple With Fracking Since It’s Arrival - Cecil Township, Washington County [Part 2] [PDF of Article]
-- Observer-Reporter: ‘Shale Revolution:’ A Look Back At 20 Years Of Gas Drilling In Southwest PA [Part 1] [PDF of Article]
PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - October 12 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 87 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In October 12 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- Pennsylvania Voters Overwhelmingly Support Stricter Regulations On Fracking, New Poll Finds [PaEN]
-- Sen. Bartolotta, Sen. Yaw Announce Bill To Withhold Gas Drilling Impact Fees To Municipalities That Set More Protective Standards On Natural Gas Development Than State Law, And While There Is a Legal Challenge To Local Restrictions [PaEN]
-- Saint Vincent College Study Finds Counties With Shale Gas Fracking Wells Using Chemicals That Target Certain Hormones Have Greater Incidence Of Pre-Term Births, Low Birth Weights [PaEN]
-- The Derrick: PUC Considering Emergency Order To Have Aqua Pennsylvania Take Over 6 Rhodes Estate Water Companies [Fallout Continues From Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill 15 Months Ago In Venango County] [PaEN]
-- DEP Begins Accepting Applications For New Methane Reduction Grants To Plug Conventional Oil, Gas Wells Oct. 16 [PaEN]
-- Evangelical Environmental Network Delivers Over 36,000 Comments From Pro-Life Christians To Gov. Shapiro, DEP In Support Of Strong Oil & Gas Industry Methane Emission Controls [PaEN]
-- Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community Receives Grant To Strengthen Communications and Community Engagement Initiatives [PaEN]
-- Beaver County Residents Invited To Join An Oct. 23 In-Person Tour Of Shale Gas Fracking Sites & Infrastructure In Washington County And Discover Its Costs [PaEN]
-- DEP Invites Comments On Proposed Air Quality General Permit (GP-16) Covering Gaseous Fuel-Fired Spark Ignition Internal Combustion Engines [Copy Of Documents ]
-- Team PA & Clean Air Task Force Convene Leaders To Discuss Challenges, Opportunities Of Industrial Decarbonization; DOE Provides Update On Decarbonization Investments In PA [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnection Winter Outlook: Adequate Power Supplies Available Under Normal Conditions; PJM Delays Next Power Auction After Prices Spike [PaEN]
-- Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community Urges EPA To Move Forward With Strong Regulation Of Vinyl Chloride Under Federal Toxic Substances Control Act, While Calling For A Ban [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- The Energy Age Blog: ‘Amity & Prosperity’ By Eliza Griswold Thrust Fracking In Washington County, PA Into The National Spotlight
-- Observer-Reporter: ‘Amity And Prosperity’ Book By Eliza Griswold Thrust Fracking [And Its Environmental & Health Impacts In] Washington County, Into National Spotlight [PDF of Article] [Part 5]
-- Observer-Reporter: 20 Years On, Fracking’s Potential Health Impacts Eyed [Part 4] [PDF of Article]
-- Observer-Reporter Letter: There’s Another Side To The 'Shale Gas Revolution' [PaEN]
-- Environmental Health Project: Health Professional’s Toolkit On Oil & Gas Development Health Impacts
--Washington & Jefferson College: October Marks 20th Anniversary Of Marcellus Shale In Appalachia
-- Observer-Reporter Editorial: Use Reason With Fracking
-- The Economist: The Shale Revolution Helped Make America’s Economy Great [‘It’s Like A Giant Factory Producing Energy’] [PDF of Article]
-- Spotlight PA: No One Is Using $2.6 Billion Hydrogen, Natural Gas Tax Credit, Shapiro Wants To Rewrite The Law To Boost Electricity Production
-- Utility Dive: Possible PJM Market Changes Could Lower Near-Term Capacity Prices, But Ultimately Give Rise To Higher Prices For A Longer Period Of Time - Morgan Stanley
-- The Allegheny Front - Kara Holsopple: New Guidelines Center The Needs Of People With Disabilities During Petrochemical Disasters
-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: EPA Reaches $4.2 Million Settlement, Largest Of Its Kind, Over 2019 Philadelphia Refinery Explosion [Includes Copy Of Proposed Settlement]
-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: EPA Reaches Historic $4.2 Million Settlement Over 2019 South Philly Refinery Explosion, Fire
-- AP: EPA Reaches $4.2 Million Settlement Over 2019 Explosion, Fire At Philadelphia Refinery
-- WPXI: Small Natural Gas Leaks Found In More Than 30 Homes In Cranberry Twp., Butler County
[Posted: October 13, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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