Action speaks louder than words. Join the march …
Film Showing 6/18
How to Let Go of the World a new film by Josh Fox of Gasland fame will be screened on Saturday June 18th 2:00 PM at The Newtown Theater 120 State Street in Newtown PA.
Trailer (Click to View)
Although admission is free a goodwill offering is much appreciated. This event is sponsored by local civic activist groups: 350 Bucks County, the Coalition for Peace Action and the Delaware Riverkeeper Network. For further information please contact Jasmine Spence 215.510.5562.
MORALtorium Lobby Day
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing.” ~Edmund Burk
There is an opportunity to do something on Monday March 21st. You could speak your mind on the evils of fracking in Harrisburg. In fact, it may be one of the few chances you have to actually be heard and to balance the excessive influence of the energy lobby. Read the details here.
Here’s the calendar info …
What: Moraltorium Rally and Lobby Day
When: Monday, March 21 (schedule below)
Where: Grace United Methodist Church
RSVP with UUPLAN so they can plan for lobby meetings:
https://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/51510/c/305/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=5636
You can also share the Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/465805926940635/
Needless to say, it should also be a great opportunity to hang out with like minded activists.
Moratorium Resolution Passes Upper Makefield
Tuesday, December 1, 2015 the Upper Makefield Board of Supervisors unanimously passed their version of the shale gas drilling moratorium resolution. This will be used to give weight to our appeals to the Delaware River Basin Commission and the PA Legislature to permanently ban fracking in the Delaware Basin.
Now all three townships that comprise the zoning jointure have passed such ordinances. Their Solicitor has the Riverkeeper’s guide book for drilling ordinances and also the guide for pipeline zoning. With these tools it should be possible to craft zoning ordinances that give the maximum protection to air and water quality and the environment generally. Although there is no urgency to act quickly, it is crucial to invest the time to get a good ordinance in place as a fall-back should efforts to ban fracking fail.
Every resident of Bucks County should be respectfully working to make sure that Supervisors take the next steps.
In addition to the resolution, and drilling and pipeline ordinances, we anticipate that innovative lawyers will be offering bold strategies for townships to protect their citizens from the worst abuses of the shale gas industry. To get an idea what shape this might take visit Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF.org)
A Moral Call to Action – 9/12/15
Many people see stewardship of our environment as a moral issue. The world’s great religions call their followers to love one another and be stewards of all creation. Climate disruption has moral and social justice implications that are the common concern of all faithful people. The forum announced in the flyer below affords a great opportunity to explore and discuss how faith informs our efforts to ensure a safe healthy planet for future generations.
The call to environmental stewardship is nearly universal. Citizens Climate Education has published a book of statements by world faith leaders titled Faith Based Statements on Climate Change. Copies are available from them – 1330 Orange Avenue #300, Coronado, CA 92118; 609 437-7142.
132 Page book of Statements by World Faith Leaders.
Wrightstown Meeting August 3rd –
Flyer Announcing 8/3 Update and Supervisors’ Visit
We’re asking everyone to come out on Monday August 3 to hear an update on our efforts to prevent premature adoption of the jointure drilling zone ordinance. We’ll meet at six (6PM) at the Wrightstown Friends Meeting at 535 Durham Road, PA 413 North. After a short update there will be time for comments and questions. Then at seven (7PM) all will go over to the Wrightstown Municipal Building (2203 Second Street Pike) for the Supervisors’ Meeting that starts at 7:30PM. As before a few people will present our concerns.
We’ve been in touch with the Supervisors and anticipate a good reception and discussion. It’s clear that they are not eager to see fracking come to our area. We want to be a resource and provide support for a good strategy to deal with the threat fracking represents to our quiet enjoyment of our beautiful Bucks County homes and surroundings.
A PDF copy of the flyer above is here. Pass it on and print it for your neighbors who don’t surf the web.
Briefing July 7, 2015
There will be an open public meeting to brief concerned citizens on the impact of fracking on people and quality of life, health and infrastructure in the region at 6 PM in the Newtown Friends Meeting. Note that fracking and the proposed ordinance are not on either the Planning or the Supervisor’s agenda so far as we know.
We do know that it was already reviewed and revised by Upper Makefield and the version with their revisions was given to Wrightstown and Newtown Township on May 4th. The Planning Board of Newtown Township has reviewed it in June, but has not approved it. So we believe it’s timely and appropriate to express our concerns and desire for more public participation during the public comment portion of their meeting July 7 and 8. Further details are in the flyer below:
Briefing Flyer (Click Image for Printer Friendly PDF Version)
CALL TO ACTION
Update (7/3/15): A Briefing is Set for July 7th. See the flyer here: No Fracking Bucks Flyer (Mun.Bldg.off Durham Rd.)
URGENT NEED TO AVOID FRACKING IN NEWTOWN, UPPER MAKEFIELD, AND WRIGHTSTOWN
Bring your children, your neighbors, your friends to two critical meetings:
Tues., July 7 at 7pm – the Newtown Township Planning Board will meet to discuss a resolution to allow fracking in Newtown Twn. (Rt. 413, off Durham Rd.)
Wed., July 8 at 7pm – the Newtown Township Supervisors will meet to hear the recommendation of the Planning Board and vote on the resolution.
Stop Fracking poster (click to download) by Greg Deal.
With the out-sized influence of the fossil fuel industry in PA, with the predictability of human error, with the inevitable escape of methane gas during drilling, extraction and abandonment of wells, there is no sure way to regulate fracking’s impact. The proposed resolution makes clear the risks involved (to use the language of the resolution)
- Air and water pollution
- Offensive or noxious odors, gases, dust, and glare
- Junk, refuse, trash or abandoned material (including the well itself)
- Hazardous or toxics materials
- Blowouts
It doesn’t mention other known risks:
- Decreased property values (and banks refusing to provide mortgages for properties that have wells on or near them)
- Noise and road damage 24/7 from18-wheelers hauling supplies in and fracking waste water out (not to mention the amount of water used in processing)
- The fact that every vertical well into the shale can conceal 10-16 horizontal well branches that can run 2-4 miles underground
Lawyerly language full of loopholes and slippery language.
The proposed resolution uses vague, slippery language like
- “except pipelines WHERE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY”
- “UNLESS SUCH PLACEMENT IS UNAVOIDABLE”
- “the operator shall take ALL POSSIBLE PRECAUTIONS…to minimize noise levels”
The price for this irreversible damage? “A letter of credit or other financial security” approved by the governing body “BUT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000.” Litigation to enforce would cost more. Remember, once any ordinance is passed, it can be amended at any meeting, so the language of the law is not much protection even if air-tight .
On Dec. 20, 2013, the PA Supreme Court ruled that municipalities “must act as trustees to protect the rights of PA citizens” to “clean air and pure water” and the “preservation of natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment.” STAND UP FOR OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE. Arrive no later than 6:30pm to be sure to get a seat. Check to be sure that the meeting agendas haven’t changed.
Thanks. Marguerite & Richmond
Reading a paper copy of this? Details, links, and supporting information are available on our blog site: NoFrackingBucks.com.
Further Information
- Copy of the proposed resolution to permit fracking. (PDF) (Click to view or download)
- Due to leaks of methane, fracking “wipes out [the] benefit” natural gas might have for the climate over other fossil fuels. (click)
- Pennsylvania Department of Health records “reveal a lack of follow-through” on fracking related health complaints. (click)
- Fracking necessitates the condemnation of land to construct pipelines. (click)
- Municipalities have the right to limit fracking. (click-1) (click-2)
- Natural Resources Defense Council fact sheet(PDF). (click)
- Why the scientific case against fracking keeps getting stronger. (click)
- US News debate: Is fracking a good idea? (click)
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