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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep. Mike Sturla Chairman, Majority Policy Committee |
State Rep. Deberah Kula D-Fayette/Westmoreland Hearing Co-Chairman |
Majority Policy Committee evaluates Marcellus Shale water issues
UNIONTOWN, May 14 – The House Majority Policy Committee held a public hearing today at Penn State Fayette's The Eberly Campus in Uniontown to examine water quality issues related to Marcellus Shale extraction, according to Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster.
State Rep. Deberah Kula, D-Fayette/Westmoreland, requested the hearing and served as its co-chairman.
"The Marcellus Shale industry holds great promise for our state, but before Pennsylvania fully engages in this promising industry, it is important to understand all the potential consequences, including quality of life factors," Sturla said. "I applaud Representative Kula for wanting to examine the effects of Marcellus Shale on water quality in her region and in the Commonwealth as a whole."
"Companies are eyeing western Pennsylvania because our portion of the formation is believed to be very profitable for the amount of natural gas it holds," Kula said. "Landowners need to be aware of their rights should they be approached to lease their land, and it is equally important that residents understand any potential hazards to ground and surface water at and around drilling sites. The Marcellus Shale drilling industry is fairly new in Pennsylvania and we need to be diligent in providing residents with information about any local licenses awarded as well as the opportunity to voice their concerns about drilling."
Those testifying at the hearing included John Walliser, vice president of legal and government affairs, Pennsylvania Environmental Council; Katie Klaber, president, Marcellus Shale Coalition; Jeffery Kupfer, senior vice president, Atlas Energy; Terry Engelder, professor of geosciences, Penn State University; and Eric Conrad, project manager of Oil and Gas Industry Partnership, North Central Workforce Investment Board.
For more information about the Policy Committee and for hearing materials, visit www.pahouse.com/PolicyCommittee.
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