Not All It's Fracked Up To Be

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RDA - Responsible Drilling Alliance

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Aug 22, 2011, 5:18:15 PM8/22/11

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Loyalsock Township Gas Activity Ordinance Hearing Tuesday

Loyalsock Township supervisors will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, August 23, from 7pm – 9pm at 2501 East Third St. to give residents (and members of the gas industry) a chance to voice their opinions on an amendment to the Loyalsock Township Ordinances regarding gas activities in the township.

At their last meeting, the board of supervisors voted to advertise for a public hearing on Ordinance # 343, which, if enacted, would regulate gas and oil activities in the township. Copies of the proposed ordinance currently are available at the township building.

RDA member residents of Loyalsock township are urged to come to the hearing and voice support for stronger ordinances more protective of the property rights of those whose neighbors may want to allow gas activities on their own property. As the ordinances stand now, there is little teeth to them. Many of the proposed ordinances appear quite timid in terms of protecting the quality of life most residents thought they chose when they decided to purchase property in the township.

If you own property, work or live in Loyalsock, or have friends who do, please come and/or pass this on, so the supervisors know that residents who voice objections and suggestions for stronger ordinances have widespread community support. Come and hear different opinions and choose which you think are the best course for your family and property.

RDA Billboard on Rt. 15

On Monday August 22nd, the first-ever RDA billboard was installed on the north side of Rt 15 in South Williamsport, across from the Little League Baseball complex where the annual World Series event is taking place through Sunday the 28th. The billboard will remain up for 30 days.

RDA wishes to thank its donors for funding this attempt to stimulate awareness, conversation and activity on the RDA web site. We’d also like to thank Lamar Outdoor Advertising for its commitment to free speech and civil public discourse in a community increasingly dominated by advertising that seeks to promote the deep shale gas drilling.

The message on the sign is a simple one: Shale Gas Drilling: Not all it’s FRACKED up to be. A lot of discussion in a short window of time went into concocting this brief message, delivered alongside a brilliant ominous photograph provided by Terry Wild Studios.

The gas industry perspective is everywhere for our out of town visitors to see and hear, but the realities we are living with may not be so obvious to those focused on the activity at the stadium. It is RDA's hope that the billboard will lead visitors to question some of the local folks about the changes to our area, and the challenges we face. It's a good bet that deep concern about our future will be included in the honest response of many area residents.

U.S. Energy Secretary’s Advisory Board Report

The Shale Gas Subcommittee of the United State's Secretary of Energy's Advisory Board has identified measures that can be taken to reduce the environmental impact and improve the safety of shale gas production.

From the report, issued August 11, 2011:

“The growth (of gas production) has also brought questions about whether both current and future production can be done in an environmentally sound fashion that meets the need of the public trust.”

"As with all energy use, shale gas must be produced in a manner that prevents, minimizes and mitigates environmental damage and the risk of accidents and protects public health and safety. Public concern and debate about the production of shale gas has grown as shale gas output has expanded.”

"The Subcommittee identifies four major areas of concern: (1) Possible pollution of drinking water from methane and chemicals used in fracturing fluids; (2) Air pollution; (3) Community disruption during shale gas production; and (4) Cumulative adverse impacts that intensive shale production can have on communities and ecosystems.

There are serious environmental impacts underlying these concerns and these adverse environmental impacts need to be prevented, reduced and, where possible, eliminated as soon as possible. Absent effective control, public opposition will grow, thus putting continued production at risk. Moreover, with anticipated increase in U.S. hydraulically fractured wells, if effective environmental action is not taken today, the potential environmental consequences will grow to a point that the country will be faced with a more serious problem. Effective action requires both strong regulation and a shale gas industry in which all participating companies are committed to continuous improvement..."

Both industry and environmental leaders have commented on the report. RDA has its own perspective. If you’d like to read ours, it will be available on our website: www.responsibledrillingalliance.org