Re: SCGF Mary Jo Whites hearing announcement -- an error:

[Patrick Walker]

Below is a letter I sent Sen. Mary Jo White in response to the letter Virginia received from Ms. White's assistant Patrick Henderson. Mr. Henderson quickly called me back, denying (correctly, it turns out) that Sen. White ever received an invitation fron RDA; I had simply misremembered what John Trallo told me on the phone about his invitees and apologize to him and Sen. White for the mistake   Also, Mr. Henderson said that Sen. White's office had several times reached out to RDA to meet with him and/or Sen. White in Harrisburg, and that they had not responded to this outreach. While he seemed receptive to the possibility of a new hearing on waste disposal, he did not think it was Sen. White's business to get involved sposoring science debates. This remained the case even when I said it could give us science's voice (and not simply John Hanger's or Kathryn Klaber's; both, in my view, have clear bias) on the AP wastewater article, which Mr. Henderson considers a mass of distortions with a few valid points buried within it. He seemed utterly unreceptive to setting the record straight on "clean gas" claims in light of Howarth and Ingraffea's greenhouse study, even when I pointed out that this didn't automatically amount to insistance we should ban or curtail the industry, but simply was essential so that public debate and action might proceed on an informed basis.   I've included Mr. Henderson in the distribution list, to make sure I have fairly represented his views.   Patrick   Dear Senator White:   My wife Virginia Cody shared with me an e-mail from your assistant Patrick Henderson correcting a false press report that you had scheduled a hearing on the disposal of contaminated wastewater from Marcellus shale gas drilling; the actual hearing occurred last January.   While we're grateful for the correction, we wonder whether a new hearing on wastewater disposal might not be in order. As we're sure you're aware, a recent AP news story reported the dumping of treated wastewater into PA rivers and streams. While both ex-DEP Secretary John Hanger and Kathryn Klaber of the Marcellus Shale Coalition published rebuttals, many concerned citizen noted that no one rebutted the AP's report that over one-fifth of the contaminated wastewater had not been accounted for. As this amounts over one millions gallons of water containing radioactive elements and toxic chemicals, this level of unaccounted waste is totally unacceptable. For those of us deeply concerned that our new administration is so pro-drilling as to endanger us for the sake of the gas industry, a well-publicized public hearing on this subject would help win our good will and put our fears to rest.   One other thing. We believe a series of public debates on the gas-drilling issue, where each side can invite its most able scientists and spokepersons, would be a real public service. The Responsible Drilling Alliance made an earnest attempt to sponsor such a debate this Friday in Laporte, but perhaps the pro-drilling side found the RDA too anti-drilling to accept their invitation; I believe you yourself declined to attend. If legislators on both sides of the issue could unite to sponsor a series of similar public debates, this could help everyone to proceed on a fact-based, rational basis, as leading experts would be present to give the facts. Would you agree to be a sponsor?   Sincerely, Patrick Walker --- On Wed, 1/12/11, Virginia Cody <petportr...@yahoo.com> wrote: From: Virginia Cody <petportr...@yahoo.com> Subject: SCGF Mary Jo Whites hearing announcement -- an error: To: susquehann...@googlegroups.com Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 2:53 PM ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: "Henderson, Patrick" <phend...@pasen.gov> To: Virginia Cody <petportr...@yahoo.com> Sent: Wed, January 12, 2011 6:37:40 AM Subject: RE: Dear Ms. Cody,   Sen. White does not have a hearing scheduled. Her committee held a hearing on this issue in January 2010 – here are the details:   http://www.senatormjwhite.com/environmental/2010/012710/agenda.htm   Unfortunately, several news organizations, based on a legislative tracking service error, published that the hearing would be held January 27, 2011.   Thank you again for the email.   Patrick Henderson, Executive Director Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee Office of Senator Mary Jo White, Chairman (717) 787-9684 Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee       From: Virginia Cody [mailto:petportr...@yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, January 10, 2011 11:57 PM To: White, Senator Mary Jo Subject:   Dear Senator White   I understand you will be having a meeting/hearing on wastewater disposal matters related to natural gas drilling.   Can you please provide me with the details of this meeting along with an agenda?  I would like to attend if my schedule permits.   Thank you, Virginia Cody 243 Riverside Drive POB 128 Factoryville, PA 18419 570-945-7621

 

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