Overview …
Summary – David vs. Goliath
(Remember who won!)
Banning fracking in Bucks County and Pennsylvania may seem like an impossible challenge until you remember that we are citizens, parents, grandparents, friends of the earth, lovers of truth and justice AND WE VOTE.
Our Goal: We seek a well thought out, comprehensive, preemptive legal strategy to avoid the rape of local communities by powerful and ruthless gas and oil interests. Two moratoriums, not necessarily permanent, have delayed fracking in Bucks County. Local residents must encourage David (the governing body of each town) to make prudent use of the present opportunity so that when Goliath (the driller) comes they are ready.
Our intention is to be polite, appreciative, respectful, knowledgeable and persistent. This is not a partisan issue. It’s about health, quality of life, protection of property value, and preservation of scenic and historic heritage.
The Problem: In 2012, the Pennsylvania State Legislature took away our right to the quiet enjoyment of our homes and communities when it passed Act 13. The new law purported to regulate gas and oil drilling and compensate communities for the unavoidable negative impact, but also it stripped away local zoning controls. After litigation, the State Supreme Court restored municipalities’ right to zone drilling so as to protect the air, water, and environment. But it didn’t say towns could outright ban fracking.
The State and Federal regulations permit fracking to be done virtually anywhere: near homes, near schools, near hospitals, in historic districts, near rivers and lakes, anywhere. Local townships have been advised to create zones where oil and gas drilling is permitted lest a lawsuit again strip away control of siting. In an attempt to respond to that warning a proposed drilling zone ordinance was cobbled up in Upper Makefield Township for consideration by Wrightstown and Newtown Townships. It’s a problem because it’s woefully inadequate to its purpose.
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NoFrackingBucks.net
Fracking is dangerous and damages the environment, property values, and people’s health. This site is dedicated to preventing all fracking activity in Bucks County Pennsylvania.
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