The Marcellus Shale and Responsible Development
http://joehoeffel2010.com/environment/marcellus-shale

UPDATE: Joe’s December 17 testimony to the DEP advocating tougher regulations for wastewater discharges and toxic pollutants.

Pennsylvania sits above a veritable “gold mine” of natural gas: a layer of rock called the Marcellus Shale which lies underneath 2/3 of the commonwealth (as well as much of our neighboring states) and contains what may be the largest natural gas reserve in the United States.

In 2008, a study estimated the size of the Marcellus Shale to be 80-250 times greater than previously thought, which attracted the attention of the natural gas industry — the substantial investment to drill wells more than a mile deep suddenly seemed extremely profitable — and in the last two years companies have flocked to Pennsylvania to apply for drilling permits and build wells. Already, there are nearly 600 wells in operation in Pennsylvania, with many more permits pending and expected.

Continue reading Democrat Candidate for Governor Joe Hoeffel: We must take strong, swift action to ensure drilling is conducted safely and responsibly →

Pennsylvania lawsuit says drilling polluted water

AVELLA, Pennsylvania (Reuters) – A Pennsylvania landowner is suing an energy company for polluting his soil and water in an attempt to link a natural gas drilling technique with environmental contamination.

George Zimmermann, the owner of 480 acres in Washington County, southwest Pennsylvania, says Atlas Energy Inc. ruined his land with toxic chemicals used in or released there by hydraulic fracturing.

Water tests at three locations by gas wells on Zimmermann’s property — one is 1,500 feet from his home — found seven potentially carcinogenic chemicals above “screening levels” set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as warranting further investigation.

Continue reading Atlas Energy Sued for Poisoning Avella, PA Water with 7 carcinogens →

Pause the Pa. gas rush

The state must deal with environmental questions before it allows more drilling.

By Greg Vitali

Gov. Rendell plans to lease more state forest land for Marcellus Shale gas drilling, perhaps as early as this spring, to raise an additional $180 million for the 2010-11 budget. This would be in addition to the almost 700,000 acres of state forest land already available for drilling.

But no one knows what the environmental impact of the anticipated drilling will be. That’s why I have introduced legislation to impose a moratorium on further leasing until we know more.

One-and-a-half million acres of Pennsylvania forest land sits atop the Marcellus Shale formation. With the leasing of 32,000 acres last month, 692,000 acres of state forest land is now available for drilling. The remaining unleased public land is environmentally sensitive, containing old-growth forests, fragile ecosystems, and rare and endangered species.

Continue reading PA Democrat Rep. Greg Vitali Calls for Suspension of New Gas Drilling Permits →

by Randy Shannon

In the first debate of the Democratic candidates for PA Governor in Harrisburg, Joe Hoeffel was the only candidate supporting single payer healthcare. Hoeffel is Montgomery County Commissioner, former US Congressman, and the 2004 Democratic candidate for US Senate against Republican Arlen Specter.

Wall Street owners angry with their purchase

Bankers threaten to once again fund the GOP if Obama continues saying mean things about them

Glenn Greenwald

Political science professors could require students to read this article from today’s New York Times and little else would be needed to convey the essence of the American political system.  The article describes how Wall Street — which poured massive amounts of money into the Obama campaign and the Democratic Party over the last several years, ensuring unparalleled access and influence — is now threatening to support the Republicans if Obama keeps saying mean things about them.  Wall Street executives are angry that, after duly purchasing the Democrats (they have receipts and everything), the Obama White House is now rousing the dirty rabble with their anti-banker rhetoric:

Republicans are rushing to capitalize on what they call Wall Street’s “buyer’s remorse” with the Democrats. And industry executives and lobbyists are warning Democrats that if Mr. Obama keeps attacking Wall Street “fat cats,” they may fight back by withholding their cash.

“If the president doesn’t become a little more balanced and centrist in his approach, then he will likely lose that support,” said Kelly S. King, the chairman and chief executive of BB&T. Mr. King is a board member of the Financial Services Roundtable, which lobbies for the biggest banks, and last month he helped represent the industry at a private dinner at the Treasury Department.

“I understand the public outcry,” he continued. “We have a 17 percent real unemployment rate, people are hurting, and they want to see punishment. But the political rhetoric just incites more animosity and gets people riled up” . . . “If the president wanted to turn every Democrat on Wall Street into a Republican,” one industry lobbyist said, “he is doing everything right.”

Continue reading Wall Street Wants more Austerity for Americans →

Pennsylvania Democrats Unanimously Endorse Single Payer Senate Bill 400 and House Bill 1660

Lancaster – The Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee today unanimously endorsed a resolution calling for passage of single payer healthcare, Senate Bill 400 and House Bill 1660, also known as the “Family and Business Healthcare Security Act.”

Given the healthcare reform deadlock in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania’s nation-leading status in the battle for state-based “Medicare for All,” is all the more significant.

“Not only does Pennsylvania now have the Democratic Party on board with the Single Payer healthcare for all,” said Healthcare for All PA executive director Chuck Pennacchio, “we also have the promised signature of our governor and the active support of Republican and Democratic leaders in both the State Senate and State House.”

Added Pennacchio, “Pennsylvania is clearly ‘ground zero’ for cost-saving, life-enhancing, job-creating, quality, comprehensive, publicly-funded, privately-delivered, healthcare for all.  Once PA adopts the proven single payer solution, our neighboring states will move rapidly to adopt the same answer, and congress will quickly follow suit.”

Presenting the resolution before the voting body of 301 Democratic State Committee members was Tom Herman, Chair of Berks County.  Seconding the motion were Jon Fox of Lancaster County and James Burn of Allegheny County.  The vote in support of House Bill 1660 and Senate Bill 400 was by unanimous consent.