Scrapbook Photo 03/25/24 - 93 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/3729bhvv
Opposition To Road Dumping Drilling Wastewater Grows: 166 Organizations, 1,445 Citizens Call On House To Reject Senate Bill 790
Photo

On January 13, as the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee prepared to consider Senate Bill 790, Berks Gas Truth has submitted to committee members a copy of a letter sent in October to lawmakers and Gov. Wolf.

166 organizations and 1,445 individuals have now signed the letter that expresses opposition to the bill that allow the road-spreading of drilling waste on unpaved roads in the Commonwealth.

Senate Bill 790 introduced by Sen. Joseph Scarnati (R-Jefferson) provides other benefits to conventional drillers, including a loosening of the requirements for reporting spills.

The letter was initially addressed to Senate leaders, but copied to other legislators and the governor, after the bill was moved straight from the Appropriations committee to a floor vote with no debate. 

The letter states, “We, the undersigned, are writing to protest your refusal to follow the established process in a rush to get a win for the industry you have come to believe you represent.”

“Evidence of the dangers of spreading drilling waste on roadways has only grown since the DEP banned the practice. Unfortunately, we have a largely science-averse legislature that is much more concerned with keeping its industry underwriters happy than with keeping Pennsylvanians safe. The people know it and are done with it.” said Karen Feridun, Founder of Berks Gas Truth.

The letter closes, “Doing the bidding of the natural gas industry is not your job. You are in Harrisburg to represent the best interests of Pennsylvanians. You are failing us, regularly and miserably. We call on the House to stop both Senate Bill 790 and House Bill 1635 (a similar measure introduced this year). Should they fail to represent our best interests, we call on Governor Wolf to commit to vetoing whichever bill reaches his desk.”

Click Here for a copy of the letter.

The House Environmental Committee amended the bill to take out the provisions related to road dumping of drilling wastewater, but that doesn't mean it won't pop up again.

NewsClips:

300+ PA Environment & Energy NewsClips Are Waiting To Be Read

Related Articles:

Final Vote Expected This Week In House On Bill Reducing Environmental Protection Requirements For Conventional Oil & Gas Drilling

PEC, EDF: Senate Bill 790 Includes Dramatic Reductions In Health, Environmental Protections From Impacts Of Conventional Oil & Gas Drilling

House Environmental Committee Removes Provisions Legalizing Road Dumping Of Drilling Wastewater From SB 790, But Significant Flaws Still Exist

DEP Orders Range Resources To Address Methane Leaking Into The Air, 12 Water Wells, Groundwater  From A Marcellus Gas Well In Lycoming County Since 2013

DEP Issues $1.95 Million Penalty To Sunoco For Mariner East 2 Pipeline Construction Violations At Raystown Lake, Huntingdon County

DEP: Chapter 102 E&S Permit Application Received For Adelphia Gateway Pipeline Project In Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery Counties

DEP Issues Water Quality Certification For 2 Dominion Energy Pipeline Projects In Beaver, Lawrence, Westmoreland Counties

PA AG Shapiro, 15 Other State Attorneys General Objecting To Shipping Liquefied Natural Gas By Rail

2020 Shale Network Workshop Set For May 14-15 In State College To Feature Health Effects Presentations

PUC Approves Settlement for Aqua America’s $4+ Billion Acquisition of the Peoples Natural Gas Companies

[Posted: January 13, 2020]


1/20/2020

Go To Preceding Article     Go To Next Article

Return to This PA Environment Digest's Main Page