Re: Re[2]: SCGF "Debate" last night / Henderson / Forced Pooling

[Patrick Walker]

Leslie,   I have some work to do before heading off to H-burg tomorrow, so I'll have to be briefer than about your concerns than I'd like, given the seriousness of what we're facing.   Thanks for sharing your experience of Patrick Henderson; I have to suspect, based on what I know of him and you, that you're dead-on right in everything you've said. Of course we need to fight forced pooling and zoning exemptions tooth and nail; count me in. But what I also wonder is whether we can't turn Mr. Henderson into a "toxic asset" for the Corbett administration--so arrogant, so ideological, so willing to consult the science ONLY when it favors his ideology--the exact opposite of what a public servant (and an appointed, not even an elected one!) should be. Rather like I think Tom "Revolving Door" Ridge  should be for the Marcellus Shale Coalition--an example of everything that's wrong with our society, and above all, with our state government.   One further Henderson anecdote: when I confronted Mr. Henderson with the statistical fact of housing values dropping an average of 20% wherever there is gas drilling, and with the personal fact of my wife Ginger and I having our retirement plans spoiled by being unable to sell our home because buyers in our likely market (NYC metro area) would not wish to live in a gas field, he responded with the tired ideological cliche "We believe a rising tide lifts all boats." I guess facts (and legitimate citizen worries) don't matter when ideology has taken demonic possession of a mind.,   Not only must we fight forced pooling, but we must make a shameful example of the Patrick Hendersons of this world; if we don't, not only are we fracked by the gas industry, but we've lost all hope of responsible government.   Patrick (I loath sharing this noble name with Henderson)  --- On Sun, 1/16/11, Leslie A. <les...@techplacers.com> wrote: From: Leslie A. <les...@techplacers.com> Subject: Re[2]: SCGF "Debate" last night / Henderson / Forced Pooling To: "Patrick Walker" <pjwalk...@yahoo.com> Cc: susquehann...@googlegroups.com, yo...@epix.net Date: Sunday, January 16, 2011, 4:00 PM My guess is that Patrick Henderson will be the industry's inside advocate for forced pooling and zoning exemptions, which was likely the reason, at least in significant part, for creating the position he now holds. We had a long chat a few months ago... he had an agenda and forced pooling is high on it. Henderson appeared to me to be young (30ish), arrogant and motivated. Forced pooling, if passed by the state, would be legislative theft of property. It transfers control of private property from individuals to the gas companies. It expands the industry's ability to hold leases, gives them rights to drill under properties even if the land owner refuses to lease (it also coerces leasing) -- you are forced to accept drilling under your property. It is a violation of the PA constitution, but certain legislators don't seem to mind and are working hard for the industry to make it a reality. I've attached a Q & A on the subject and a graphic.  Sunday, January 16, 2011, 10:04:28 AM, Patrick Walker <pjwalk...@yahoo.com> wrote: > Hi, Carolyn   I very much support your idea of making sure our so-called "representatives" see the debate video and in general be forced to face hardball question from their constituents about the science facts, however inconvenient.   In fact, since it's hard to line up debate sponsors both sides will regard as neutral (and therefore show up at), I've started proposing the idea of getting bipartisan support from our legislators for sponsoring science and policy debates on gas drilling; each side would be encouraged to send its best-informed and most eloquent spokespersons--and of course there would be open Q & A.   Frankly, I can't see how anyone who believes in government based on informed consent of the governed can deny the value of such debates, especially when the gas industry has such a huge budget and media-access advantage in promoting its biased viewpoint. However, when I pitched the idea to Sen. Mary Jo White, her legislative assistant--now to be PA energy czar--Patrick Henderson said (over the phone, with scarcely concealed contempt in his voice), "I don't think it's Sen. White's business to be sponsoring science debates." (He also saw no problem with the deceptive industry claim that gas is clean-burning, when Howarth and Ingraffea's study points up the extreme greenhouse dirtiness of the extraction process.) All I can conclude is that Patrick Henderson doesn't believe in informed consent of the governed--or in basing policy on sound science--which confirms my worst fears about the new Corbett administration.   I hope to find support in pressuring our "reps" to make policy in the light of ALL scientific facts--not just the convenient ones--and in ceasing to aid and abet the misinformation campaigns of the gas industry. If anything, they should be denouncing these misinformation campaigns in the public interest.   Patrick   P.S. to Yoko: You've expressed your doubts about Patrick Henderson too, so I wanted to make sure you saw this. --- On Sat, 1/15/11, Carolyn Knapp <kna...@epix.net> wrote: From: Carolyn Knapp <kna...@epix.net> Subject: RE: SCGF "Debate" last night - with Engelder and Ingraffea Another HUGE Disappointment To: "'supersnooper58'" <ldpk...@epix.net>, susquehann...@googlegroups.com Date: Saturday, January 15, 2011, 11:15 PM Snoop: I think someone should send either an audio or video of the Q&A. I do not want them to take the convenient way out and say they never heard. They have a RESPONSIBILITY and OBLIGATION to listen to them and if someone sends it to them (documented) their testimony that they were not knowledgeable can be proven inaccurate. BTW who will have a video of last night? I would like to ask the Chesapeake Advisory Board to play it for the Board to view. I think it would provide for some interesting discussion and/or thought. Please let me know I have an Advisory Board Meeting on January 24th and I would like to bring it up then. Carolyn  -----Original Message----- From: susquehann...@googlegroups.com [mailto:susquehann...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of supersnooper58 Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2011 1:27 PM To: SusquehannaCoGasForum Subject: SCGF "Debate" last night - with Engelder and Ingraffea Another HUGE Disappointment another thing that I also feels goes unnoticed is how that County's representative and Senator scooted out before their own CONSTITUENTS Q&A period started.......mighty convenient for them.... eh..... well, herein lies the problem..... if they don't stick around to be questioned by their constituents well then, they can honestly say they've heard nothing from their people.......slick eh..... disturbing is more of the word!!!!!!!!!! These are the people who are voted into office who are supposed to be watching our backs, making sure the community doesn't end up DEAD, or HARMED by THEY PRECIOUS GROWTH! those that are in power to assure us of that right have sold us out, this is an abomination!, how dare they.....to let this industry come in here with no plans to protect the people is TREASONOUS to say the least.... but I digress, we are the forsaken --  You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SusquehannaCoGasForum" group. To post to this group, send email to susquehann...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to susquehannacogasforum+unsub...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/susquehannacogasforum?hl=en. --  You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SusquehannaCoGasForum" group. To post to this group, send email to susquehann...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to susquehannacogasforum+unsub...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/susquehannacogasforum?hl=en. --  You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SusquehannaCoGasForum" group. To post to this group, send email to susquehann...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to susquehannacogas...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/susquehannacogasforum?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SusquehannaCoGasForum" group. To post to this group, send email to susquehann...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to susquehannacogas...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/susquehannacogasforum?hl=en.