Marcellus Shale Hearings Set

From Keystone Progress:

PHILADELPHIA - A new commission will give the citizens of Pennsylvania an opportunity to tell their side of the story about drilling in the Marcellus Shale. 

Former state Representatives Carole Rubley and Dan Surra will co-chair the Citizens Marcellus Shale Commission, which will hold hearings across Pennsylvania to gather citizen perspectives on the Marcellus Shale and produce a final report for policymakers.

The first of five hearings took place last night in McDonald, PA, near Pittsburgh.  

“Marcellus Shale development will have a huge impact on our commonwealth and it is critical that we get it right,” Surra said. “This commission will give citizens an opportunity to add their voice and bring some necessary balance to this critical debate.”  

The Commission will give Pennsylvanians an opportunity to weigh in on the issue, said Rubley.

“Their input should inform state policies to ensure gas drilling is conducted in a responsible manner," Rubley said.

The Citizens Commission was formed by eight leading civic and environmental organizations to give Pennsylvanians living with drilling in their backyard a place to speak out and recommend action.  

Earlier this year, Gov. Tom Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, heavy with industry representatives, produced a report and recommendations on shale drilling.

The Citizens Commission is intended to supplement that work and delve deeper into a variety of issues, including water and air quality, social impacts of gas drilling, the drilling tax, and impacts outside Marcellus communities. 

“The Governor’s commission told part of the story,” said Thomas Au, of the Sierra Club, Pennsylvania Chapter. “The citizens of Pennsylvania have a different story to tell.” 

In early October, the commission will produce a report documenting the opinions and concerns of citizens to be delivered to Corbett and the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Citizens can sign up to participate at these hearings at the commission’s web site: http://citizensmarcellusshale.com or by calling Stephanie Frank at 717-255-7181.

SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS: Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, Clean Water Action, Keystone Progress, League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, Penn Environment, Sierra Club, Pennsylvania Chapter, and the CLEAR Coalition.The Citizens Marcellus Shale Commission was formed by eight civic and environmental organizations in Pennsylvania to assess the impacts, both positive and negative, of natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale and to identify the steps needed to ensure drilling occurs in a responsible manner.

Learn more: http://citizensmarcellusshale.com.