NAME THAT BREW!
Check out details for our contest on Facebook or at the end of this newsletter! 
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 UPCOMING EVENTS
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Save the Date!
The next
Keep It Wild Hike is
December 8
Watch for details soon! 
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Stop the Tireburner
Fundraiser
Tuesday,
November 19
6:30-9:30 p.m.
Milton, PA
Food, fun, wine, cocktails
$50 / person
RSVP date has passed, but if interested, email brice8@gmail.com or call 570.220.8122
ASAP to see if you can still join in the fun.
Look for additional information here
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Shale Drilling and Public Health:
A Day of Discovery
Saturday,
November 23, 2013
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman Street Pittsburgh PA 15222 (5th Floor)
Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania
FREE
but you must register to attend.
1-800-61-SHALE (800-617-4253)
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My Name Is
Allegany County
Saturday,
November 23, 2013
The Pajama Factory
Williamsport, PA
Potluck at 6:30 p.m.
Film screening at 7:00
Discussion at 8:30
Food, drinks, and music will follow!
Presented by Marcellus Shale Earth First!
Find more details here
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Pre-release screening!
Groundswell Rising
Dec. 8, 2013
7 p.m.
$10 suggested donation
Pocono Community Theater
88 South Cortland St.
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
Screening to be followed by discussion and Q&A with the director and producers.
Seating is limited; reservations are essential!
Phone: 570.421.6684
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TAKE ACTION!
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The Delaware Riverkeeper asks you to
Help Keep Frack Waste off our Rivers!Comment period closes November 29,
2013
The U.S. Coast Guard is proposing to allow the shipping of shale gas extraction wastewater by barge on the Nation's rivers.
A proposed "policy letter" would allow this waste to be carried by barge in bulk under certain conditions as a hazardous material on navigable waterways throughout the U.S.
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IN THE NEWS
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This Week's Scoops
State College Update
Part of the controversy over the conversion was the need for a new gas pipeline, a legitimate concern in terms of Thursday's explosion and fire in Milford, Texas, that burned a drill rig and forced the evacuation of the entire town for 24-36 hours. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the blazing inferno caused by a broken liquid petroleum gas line, and incident. But it's an unfortunate stretch for Chevron, as an early morning explosion and fire today at a Chevron refinery in southern Mississippi killed one worker and injured another. Details of the accident have not been released; our sincere condolences go out to the families of the workers who were harmed.
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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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Will Pope Francis "Keep It Wild?"
Recent photos of Pope Francis found on Twitter have captured the imagination of anti-fractivists around the world. Seeing the pope pictured with T-shirts bearing anti-fracking messages gives hope to those working to end hydraulic fracturing that the pope will speak out on today's environmental issues. It's a thought not so far-fetched for a pope who noted in a public address that "these days we do not have a very good relationship with
creation, do we?" and chose his name after Francis of Assisi, who in Pope Francis's own words was "the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation."
Click here to see the images of Pope Francis.
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Can Pennsylvania's Threatened and Endangered Species Survive House Bill 1576? By ANN PINCA
Controversial legislation to change the designation process for threatened and endangered species in Pennsylvania moved forward this week when the members of the House Game and Fisheries Committee voted 16-8 to approve House Bill 1576, also known as the Endangered Species Coordination Act. Republican Representative Garth Everett of Lycoming County made the motion for the bill and voted for its approval. According to Rep. Everett, (as quoted by Democratic Representative Greg Vitali of Delaware County), "Every group and industry I know that moves dirt wants this done."  | |
Rep. Greg Vitali explains the problems of HB 1576 at last week's press conference.
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Opposition is fierce between supporters who claim the bill provides better transparency, consistency and needed oversight through the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC), while those opposed insist that the bill adds politics to a scientific process and lessens the authority of the agencies charged to protect Pennsylvania's wildlife. Supporters of the legislation predictably include those who would benefit from relaxed regulations concerning the protection of sensitive species--commerce groups, home builders, and mineral extraction companies. Last August, the Marcellus Shale Coalition, Associated Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association sent a joint letter of support for the bill, commending its Republican sponsor Representative Jeff Pyle of Armstrong County for his legislation.  |
Rep. Mirabito: Don't Weaken
Endangered Species Protections
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That comes as little surprise, as it is clear from his comments where wildlife stands with Rep. Pyle. According to a WITF article, Pyle indicated after Wednesday's committee hearing that "conservationists shouldn't get carte blanche if the result is stifled industry." He referred to the charters of the Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission, pointing out that "they're not allowed to make any decisions based on economic reasons." Pyle opined that "in today's economy, and with jobless figures the way they are, it [the economy] has to be considered. There's a balance to everything." Pyle expressed his sentiment more clearly on conservation last May in reference to the possible listing of three bat species by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. He was quoted in a Lancaster news publication as saying, "I'm not willing to sacrifice tens of thousands of jobs to save their little bats."
Certainly balance is not how those opposed to HB 1576 see it. Pennsylvania's environmental, conservation, and sportsmen groups all
stand united in their assertions that through its intentional added political influence, this bill will unbalance the fragile existence of sensitive wildlife by ultimately reducing protection for threatened and endangered species.
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Rep. McCarter: Protect Pennsylvania's
Natural Resources
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Pennsylvania's wild trout streams
are also at risk. Much effort has
been spent recently to identify these streams to garner the extra protection they require, but
according to Trout Unlimited, HB 1576 will make it more difficult to designate streams as Wild Trout Waters in Pennsylvania, putting
native and wild trout populations at risk.
With lines so clearly drawn between industry and environ-
mental groups, it seems obvious that House Bill 1576 is designed to benefit economic interests, putting
profits over protection of wildlife. In fact, Rep. Vitali said in his opening comments at last week's press conference that he's been told that HB 1576 is "the Marcellus Shale Coalition's number one ask of the legislature this term."
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Rep. Pyle says Indiana bats in his district were his reason for proposing HB 1576, but Indiana bats are federally protected, so state legislation will not have any affect on measures required for their protection.
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With much Pennsylvania land and wildlife habitat being surrendered to development, especially through shale gas extraction and the infrastructure that accompanies it, HB 1576 appears to be just one more attempt to smooth the way for the exploitation of Pennsylvania's resources, with little regard for any wildlife that stands in its way.
That's not the way it should be, according to Democratic Representative Rick Mirabito of Lycoming County. At the press conference last week, Rep. Mirabito said HB 1576 "flies in the face of the legislature's constitutional requirement to protect the environment." Said Mirabito, "We have an obligation to protect the environment. It's not a choice; it's an obligation. It's a civil right for the people of Pennsylvania."
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House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, has indicated that he plans to run a vote on HB 1576 next week, possibly on November 19 or 20. Contact your Representative NOW to let them know you want them to protect Pennsylvania's wildlife by voting NO for HB 1576! Copy your Senator on the message or write to them, too, since Senator Joe Scarnati's companion bill SB 1047 is waiting in the wings.
Find your representative here and your Senator here
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The Sullivan County Listening Project:
It's Time To Listen
An exciting new project is ready to begin in Sullivan County. After months of planning and fundraising, the Shalefield Organizing Committee (SOC) has met its goals and is ready to send four full-time listeners into the mountains and valleys of the "Gem of the Endless Mountains."The Listening Project consists of a small team of trained community organizers who will canvas Sullivan County in central PA to assess the impacts of shale gas development on residents. Sullivan County was chosen for the intensity of drilling activity that has occurred over the last five years and the lack of non-profit resources to address local needs.
The organizing team includes people native to the area and those who call the region their home. By focusing on listening and relationship building, the project will help SOC learn how to best support strategic, grassroots-led, movement building for human rights. Following the project's completion, SOC plans to share their results with the public and, most importantly, to work with locals to meet the needs of their community. Listening Project goals include: ~ Hear experiences of Sullivan County residents ~ Learn about the potential impacts of Shale Gas development on the county's families and communities ~ Compile a living history and stories to eventually share with other communities ~ Build and expand on relationships with other counties in the Marcellus shalefields of Pennsylvania
The Shalefield Organizing Committee is a group of concerned residents from across eastern Pennsylvania who work to protect human and ecological rights for those living in the shalefields. All too often, the impacts of shale gas development on rural families are invisible to the residents of Pennsylvania's cities and suburbs. By connecting urban and rural communities, SOC is growing a grassroots movement that places direct demands upon those who hold power, and wins justice for shalefield residents.
Sign up to follow the Listening Project's progress here
Like us on Facebook here
Watch the video to learn more about the project.
 | | The Sullivan County Listening Project |
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Keep It Wild Hike #11
Family Friendly Hiking at Rider Park
An enjoyable afternoon took place for several family hikers on the trails of Rider Park in Lycoming County last Sunday. Share in their fun with these images by photographer Richard Karp. Look here for more photos
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CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST!
NAME THAT BREW!
We've got some exciting things brewing here at RDA and the first one, as you may have guessed, involves BEER! That's right, RDA has teamed up with Riepstine's Pub to create a locally sourced organic amber-style ale. Proceeds from the sale of this beer will be used in the ongoing efforts to preserve the Loyalsock State Forest, specifically the Rock Run area that is under threat of natural gas development.
While the beer isn't quite ready to drink yet, we need your hel p to NAME THAT BREW! Submit your moniker for the brew on our event page on Facebook or send us an email at responsibledrillingalliance@gmail.com.
All submissions must be in by midnight on Saturday, November 16.
If your name for the brew is chosen, you will win two K eep it Wild pint glasses and a gift certificate to sample RDA's beer and all the other delicious beers on tap at Riepstine's.
Remember: You only have until midnight on November 16 to enter, so NAME THAT BREW and get it to us ASAP! Winner will be announced next week!
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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
Roscoe McCloskey - RDA Board of Directors Jim Slotterback - 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.
Please note: The RDA newsletter includes reporting on a variety of events and activities, which do not necessarily reflect the philosophy of the organization. RDA practices only non-violent action in voicing the organization's beliefs and concerns.
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