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]
Related Articles:
-- Pennsylvania Voters Overwhelmingly Support Stricter Regulations On Fracking, New Poll Finds [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]
-- Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community Receives Grant To Strengthen Communications and Community Engagement Initiatives [PaEN]
-- DEP Begins Accepting Applications For New Methane Reduction Grants To Plug Conventional Oil, Gas Wells Oct. 16 [PaEN]
-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs Down 2 From Last Week; Down 38% Since Aug. 23 [Part Of Strategy To Increase Natural Gas Prices; Cut Payments To Municipalities Under Act 13 Impact Fees]
NewsClips:
-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: PA Voters Split On Fracking Ban Show Widespread Support For Stronger Regulations
-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Fracking Poll: More, But Not Too Many, Regulations Supported By PA Voters
-- Observer-Reporter: Chevron Executive Questioned By Attorneys For Washington County Family Suing Driller For Health Impacts Of Fracking [PDF of Article]
-- Post-Gazette: Politics Of Fracking Involve More Than Fossil Fuels
--Washington & Jefferson College: October Marks 20th Anniversary Of Marcellus Shale In Appalachia
-- Observer-Reporter Editorial: Use Reason With Fracking
-- 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
-- Utility Dive: PJM Plans To Delay Upcoming Electric Generation Auction By 6 Months
-- Utility Dive: Omitting Talen Energy Reliability Must-Run Power Plants From PJM’s Next Capacity Auction Could Cost $14.5 Billion, Organization Of PJM States Says
-- Bloomberg: LNG Gas Ships Now Diverting To Europe, Away From Asia, To Tap Price Increases Driven By Mideast War Fears [This Week]
-- Bloomberg: LNG Gas Traders Choose To Pay Penalties For Not Shipping Gas To Germany To Chase Higher Profits In Asia [Last Week]
-- Reuters: Canadian Natural Gas Firms Eager For LNG Gas Boom Swamp Market With Excess Supply
[Posted: October 13, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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