Pennsylvania is deeply and corruptly enmeshed with fossil energy interests. There is a bill pending, SB652, to make pipeline protests a felony on a par with assault.
Keep in mind that the products pipeline interests want to bring to market should be kept in the ground for the sake of our children. Not only do they damage health, but their use anywhere on the planet will destroy coastal real estate and much of Florida. Pipelines use government power to take private land for private use.
Nothing good comes to those in their path. So there are lots of excellent reasons for activists and property owners to risk jail. The pipeline interests want to up the ante.
Read the article in the Courier Times today. You’ll not only get a great overview of what’s afoot here. You will gain an important lesson in the down and dirty world of money and influence in government. Ostensibly, it’s about a ban on fracking in the Delaware Basin. but the DRBC decision was to propose rule-making, not ban fracking.
Between now and November, DRBC staff will be drafting language for regulations to govern not just drilling operations, but also the taking of water from the river to be used in fracking and also the disposal of the contaminated waste water. Our watchdog groups like the Delaware Riverkeeper Network smell a rat. The general public has no opportunity for influence until the proposed regulations are written. But the politicians and lobbyists will be hard at it, working to influence the phrasing and content of those rules. We’d like to think that common sense and science would prevail. But that is rarely the case. it will be very difficult for We the People to be heard in this process.
Penn Environment is circulating the following email. Consider taking an active role…
Big news: we just learned that in 5 days there will be a vote to help establish a ban on fracking in the Delaware River watershed for good. 1
With 289 confirmed cases of people’s drinking water wells contaminated by fracking in Pennsylvania, we can’t risk the drinking water for the 15 million people who rely on the Delaware River. 2
The frackers are already railing against news of the vote by spreading misinformation and lobbying the Governor. That’s why he needs to hear from thousands of Pennsylvanians in the next few days to make sure this passes.
Eight years ago we helped flood the governor’s office with public comments in support of the first moratorium on fracking in the Delaware River Basin. Since then, it’s become only more clear, as fracking companies in PA have violated environmental and public health protections over 4,000 times in other parts of the Commonwealth.3
And so for eight years, we’ve kept our drinking water safe.
This new policy would permanently commit environmental regulators to keep fracking away from the Delaware River, giving all of us peace of mind that our water will always be safe from fracking’s cocktail of toxic chemicals. Add your name for a ban on fracking near the Delaware now.
You can be sure the fracking industry will fight this effort over the next few days, but with your support we can protect the Delaware.
Sincerely,
David Masur PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center
P.S. Help us build even more support for protecting the Delaware by forwarding this to your friends and family!.
Ask your representative how “Demolishing the DEP” budget bills serve the public interest.
Food and Water Watch has the details (click link) and is organizing a statewide call in on August 17th. http://fwwat.ch/ProtectDEP. Don’t let this legislation happen!
In the frightening denial of reality we are seeing in Washington, and with the State of Pennsylvania acting against the interests of local communities and individuals this film will be a timely reminder of the grim facts. America and the world can not delay the transition to non-carbon energy sources. Delay has terrible consequences for everyone, but especially for those already surviving at a bare subsistence level.
Delaware Riverkeeper Network to Hold Community Meeting on Fracking Ordinance
You are invited to join Delaware Riverkeeper Network at a community meeting January 12 to review the fracking ordinance proposed by Newtown, Wrightstown and Upper Makefield Townships.
When: Thursday, January 12, 7:30 pm
Where: Newtown Friends Meeting House 219 Court St., Newtown, PA 18940
Why:
Newtown, Wrightstown and Upper Makefield Townships are considering adopting a gas and oil drilling amendment to the Joint Municipal Zoning Ordinance that the three municipalities share. The “fracking” amendment would regulate gas and oil drilling in certain areas in the municipalities. Delaware Riverkeeper Network has reviewed the proposed ordinance based on its Municipal Guidebook “Defending the Environmental Rights of Pennsylvania Communities from Shale Gas Development – Strategies for Residents and Local Officials”.
Delaware Riverkeeper Network’s Attorney Jordan Yeager will present a detailed review of the draft ordinance, followed by a question and answer session. Attorney Yeager argued the case for municipal and environmental rights that resulted in the state Supreme Court striking down major portions of gas industry-favorite Act 13 which preempted municipal zoning of oil and gas development. He is Partner and Chair of the Environmental and Public Sector Section at Curtin & Heefner LLP in Doylestown, Bucks County PA, has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, and is the recipient of the Clean Water Fund’s Florence Nielson Environmental Leadership Award.
Act 13 is the infamous law that stripped local PA communities of their power to regulate pipelines and fracking. In recent time litigation seeking to recover those powers has been favorably decided by the PA Supreme Court. Although this has not fixed all the problems, it has given more options to municipalities. But not all towns have effective strategies. Get the facts and empower your local elected officials.
Click on the image above to register or click here to download a copy of the registration letter.
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.
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