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Protecting Communities and Special Places
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e-Newsletter April 18, 2013
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"The wealth of the nation is its air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity ... That's the whole economy. These biological systems are the sustaining wealth of the world."
~ Gaylord Nelson, 1995
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Earth Day is April 22!
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Do Something Wild !
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SAVE THE DATE!
Democratic Policy Committee Public Hearing on Loyalsock State Forest
Wednesday, May 1 at 2 p.m. in Williamsport
Lycoming College
Wendle Hall
(Academic Center)
Room D-001
700 College Place Williamsport.
More details in next week's newsletter! -----------------------------------
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Marcellus Shale Documentary Project
Opening Reception
April 19 at 6 p.m.
Moose Exchange Stairwell GalleryBloomsburg, PA
Click the box for more information -----------------------------------
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Rep. Vitali Hosts Hearing on Health and Environmental Concerns of
Shale Drilling
Representative Vitali will host a hearing of the House Democratic Policy Committee in the State Capitol in Harrisburg.
Thursday, May 2
10:00 a.m.
It will be held in the minority caucus room (Room 418 Main Capitol building).
The purpose of the hearing is to attempt to answer the question: what can state government do to make shale drilling more protective of human health and the environment.
The hearing will be broken down into four panels: air issues, water issues, public health/public disclosure, and surface issues.
Questions?
Contact:
Robert Fogel
Legislative Assistant
State Representative
Greg Vitali
1001 East Darby Road Havertown, PA 19083
Office: 610.789.3900 Fax: 215.560.4197
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TAKE ACTION!
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Support the Fresher and Breathe Acts
Keep on Keeping it WildThe word is out and pressure is mounting! Spread the word and get others to contact legislators about the Loyalsock State Forest.
Use talking points from this letter to insist that a public hearing be held for PA citizens to express their opinion on the future of Rock Run and the Loyalsock State Forest.
Call Secretary Allan: 717.772.9084
Call Governor Corbett:
717.787.2500
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In The News
Commonwealth Pipeline
Project Suspended
Read hear why the pipeline that would have connected the
MARC 1 to southeastern PA markets has been put on hold.
Ernest Moniz
Endorsed by Senate Energy Committee
The MIT physicist was approved by the panel Thursday morning.
Read more here
Stephen Colbert
Explains the Arkansas Tar Sands Spill
Click the box to
see the video
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CORRECTION
Last week's newsletter incorrectly identified the PA Senate committee chaired by Senator Yaw as Energy and Environment. The correct title is Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.
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We welcome your active participation and are in
need of help for special events, publicity, research, and other projects.
Contact us for details.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, RDA relies on donations for the important work we do. In order for RDA to continue its valuable education and advocacy outreach in 2013, please consider a tax-free contribution
to our efforts.
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A Response to Penn State's Newly Announced
Institute for Natural Gas Research
- Jon Bogle, former RDA president
What's in it for the citizens of Pennsylvania?
What's in it for Penn State? The Institute of Natural Gas Research is a step child of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and flows out of the logic of that college's three "Penn State Reports." Those "Reports," which predicted large job, tax, and economic development for the state, haven't panned out and have instead been detrimental to the state higher education system. The "Reports" were used as a weapon to defeat a severance tax which has kept hundreds of millions of dollars out of state coffers. The Corbett administration balanced the state's budget, in part, by throttling the educational system's budget and education in general. Why are we putting scarce resources into doing research for the gas industry? I wouldn't ask this question if the research was in anthropology, history or any general science. This, however, is dedicated, specific research designed to benefit some of the largest and most profitable corporations in the world. So far, the Institute can only point to a paltry two million dollar contribution from the gas corporations to renovate some labs.
Below are the goals of the Institute as set out on its web page:
Through the institute, researchers and students will develop interdisciplinary approaches to study the complex processes involved in natural gas exploration, production, transmission, storage, processing, combustion, infrastructure and water transport, usage and impact.
The goals of the institute have little to do with the needs of the state in regard to gas exploration. A research institution studying gas exploration on behalf of the state and its citizens would have a much different set of priorities.
First, employ an economic cost-benefit analysis to determine what benefits are accruing to the state as a result of drilling and fracking. Those benefits would be weighed against drilling's effects on other industries such as agriculture, organic agriculture, forestry, tourism and ecotourism, hunting and fishing. Also, study the effects on property values, mortgages, county and municipal infrastructure, land use planning, quality of life issues, social
service and police resources.
Second would be a host of environmental topics: water use and pollution, air pollution, toxic chemicals in terms of their distribution and health effects, forest fragmentation, ecological effects of the loss of core forests, and invasive species.
The College of Mineral Sciences has lost its way. As a tax-funded university research institution they are supposed to serve the needs of their students and the Commonwealth by performing objective and balanced research. Instead they have used their tax-funded base to become a servant of international and national gas corporations.
Visit INGaR's web site here
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A drilling rig in Sullivan County, PA IMAGE: Ann Pinca
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Take Action On Earth Day!
The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970. On that day, approximately 20 million people inspired by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson voiced their growing concerns on environmental issues. Earth Day 2013 affords us many ways to continue the environmental conversation that began 43 years ago. Speak up through one or all of the opportunities found in this newsletter.
Earth Day Protest at Regional DEP Offices
Monday, April 22 at Noon
RDA will join a coalition of more than 60 environmental organizations and individuals to rally for protection of communities and the environment with a statewide Earth Day Protest. These rallies will call on our public officials and legislators to act with integrity and protect the people of Pennsylvania who are being victimized every day by the cradle-to-grave dangers of shale gas extraction. Protests are state-wide, but RDA will rally at noon at the DEP Northcentral Regional Office:
DEP Northcentral Regional Office,
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Spring Trout Lily IMAGE: Ann Pinca
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208 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA 17701.
For more information, please contact Russell Zerbo at 215-567-4004 (x130) and [email protected].
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Natural Gas Research: Who Pays, Who Benefits? By Ann Pinca Pennsylvania State University recently announced the creation of the Institute for Natural Gas Research (INGaR), an entity whose mission is "to support the ongoing development of a natural gas-based economy that will allow the country to eventually consume a predominantly domestic supply of gas for many years to come." INGaR states that it will concentrate on the challenges presented by all aspects of shale gas extraction, including environmental issues, but its main focus will undoubtedly be what it openly states in the release: research that will provide "maximum benefit" to companies. In other words, research done at INGaR will not focus on shale extraction issues as they relate to Pennsylvania citizens, but will instead promote the business of the oil and gas industry. Several ongoing projects and their sponsors are mentioned in the press release, along with un-named companies "in Pennsylvania and elsewhere" that have also provided funding for INGaR. But despite industry funding, citizen tax dollars that support Penn State will also support INGaR's research for the industry's benefit. In Pennsylvania, other colleges and universities look toward natural gas research, but will use university funds rather than industry dollars. This allows for concentration on research areas other than industry-driven needs. Indiana University of Pennsylvania's (IUP) university-funded Marcellus Shale Gas Research Cluster plans to do "the kind of research that industry and other organizations aren't going to do," according to IUP's Deanne Snavely, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Research topics are under development and will include both technological and environmental-based topics. As IUP Geography and Regional Planning chair John Benhart notes, "We want to operate as scientists and experts who can be objective regarding techniques and results." IUP also hosts the Center for Appalachian Studies at IUP, whose mission is to encourage the appreciation and understanding of the region's diverse cultural heritage. The center focuses on societal impacts of drilling, hoping to avoid the historical problems that coal mining and the lumber industries brought to the area in earlier times. While many colleges and universities have initiated stream study and water analysis programs in relation to shale gas extraction, two Juniata College professors and their students have developed the most citizen-based funding possible for their research. Professors Lamendella and Grant decided to bypass slow-moving traditional grant funding by using iamscientist.com, an online crowdfunding web site, to fund their study of streams already or likely to be impacted by drilling. With donations coming in from a vast variety of sources, Lamendella has found it exciting to be funded by ordinary people, some whose lives may be directly affected by drilling impacts. Lamendella says their research is "probably the most unbiased" since they are just interested in carrying out the science. And they have not received any donations from the oil and gas industry to influence their focus. If only Penn State's Institute for Natural Gas Research could say the same. Learn about Professors Lamendella and Grant's project and watch the video at iamscientist.com |
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Keep it Wild Hike
Celebrate Earth Day by exploring special places
in the Loyalsock State Forest!
Meet at the parking area where the Old Loggers Path crosses Yellow Dog Road; please carpool with a friend or two. This is a 6-8 mile low to medium difficulty loop hike on the Old Loggers Path and Ellenton Grade. This area is known as the Clarence Moore Tracts and will be directly impacted by drilling if allowed by the DCNR.
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IMAGE: Wendy Lynne Lee
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April 20, 2013
11:00 a.m.
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RDA Newsletter
Ann Pinca, managing editor
Ted Stroter, RDA Board of Directors editor
Ralph Kisberg, contributing editor
Robbie Cross, President - RDA Board of Directors
Jenni Slotterback, Secretary - RDA Board of Directors
Barb Jarmoska, Treasurer - RDA Board of Directors
Mark Szybist - RDA Board of Directors
Kevin Heatley - RDA Board of Directors
This weekly e-letter is written and designed by the RDA consultants and Board of Directors and sent to RDA members/subscribers. Every effort is made to assure complete accuracy in each issue. This publication and the information contained herein is copyrighted by RDA and Ann Pinca and may not be reproduced without permission. All rights reserved. Readers are invited to forward this newsletter in its entirety to broaden the scope of its outreach. Readers are also invited to comment to the managing editor regarding contents and to submit articles to be considered for publication in a future issue.
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Donations may also be sent by mail to: Responsible Drilling Alliance, P.O. Box 502, Williamsport, PA 17703
Thank you for your support!
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