Dec 11, 2017 2 min read

While I support the Department of Environmental Protection in its recent change of permitting requirements on new and modified oil and gas facilities, as reported in the Observer-Reporter Dec. 2, it’s little comfort as far too many residents of Southwestern Pennsylvania are already surrounded by polluting oil and gas development and infrastructure.

The figures from DEP are frightening. Over 110,000 tons of methane pollution were leaked into our air in 2015. Additionally, we get emissions of volatile organic compounds, including benzene, a carcinogen that contributes to such health problems as asthma and other lung and heart diseases. Our community has been targeted for development, yet we don’t have a handle on the extent of this industry’s air pollution and its cumulative impact on humans and the environment.

Gov. Tom Wolf, DEP and all elected officials who are entrusted with representing and protecting their constituents need to immediately move to implement commonsense standards against oil and gas air pollution. Instead, we see places like Fort Cherry School District’s host township, Mt. Pleasant, poised to vote in new ordinances that appear to be less protective to citizens and more favorable to the oil and gas industry.

No other industry in Pennsylvania has been given such a free pass to pollute. Methane reduction is a start, but let’s not stop there.

Cathy Lodge

Bulger