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Pros of Natural Gas Drilling in Pennsylvania
Hydraulic Fracturing
EPa declares Hydraulic Fracturing safe in 2004 study
excluded from safe water act
burden of proof lies with anti-drillers
more efficient
Economic and local Benefits
Generates direct and indirect jobs
Road Bonds and maintenance
higher income= better infrastructure
Energy Policy
will allow increased energy independence- increased domestic production
one of the largest plays ever found
up-and-coming energy resource
efficiency improvement
Pro-Drilling Advocates
• Industrial Minerals Association- North America
• Energy Tomorrow (American Petroleum Institute)
• Marcellus Coalition
Statistics
• Over one million hydrofracking wells drilled over the last 60 years without groundwater contamination
• state and local governments will receive almost $2 billion in taxes from the natural gas industry in PA from 2008-2010
• more than 110000 new jobs expected to open up in 2010 from drilling
Cons of Natural Gas Drilling in Pennsylvania
By Brooke Dalby
Environmental Cost
• Drilling wastewater1
• Threatens populations of salamanders and aquatic insects1
• Construction of roads and pad sites (erosion & sedimentation pollution)2
• Contaminants could leach into groundwater2
• More and more off-site treatment plants needed for increasing volumes of contaminated water (also expensive)2
Other Costs
• Industrialization of rural area
• Loss of (sometimes public) natural resource to for-profit companies
• Only encourages America’s dependence on non-renewable natural resources
Anti-Drilling Advocates
• Concerned Citizens of Northeastern Pennsylvania
• Gas Drilling Awareness Coalition
• R.E.S.C.U.E. of Northeastern Pennsylvania
Statistics/Polls
• A preliminary study1 found that high-density drilling can still have a harmful impact on our environment
• A study conducted by Franklin & Marshall college3 found that 35% of Pennsylvanians support a tax increase on companies that extract and sell natural gas, while 49% do not support this.
• A poll conducted by Gov. Rendell gathered that 78% supported gas severance tax while only 14% opposed it1
Political Stance
• Democrats seem to oppose it (environmental harm) and Republicans seem to support it.
• Gas drilling companies support Republicans financially (campaign money)4
• The Green Party of the United States opposes this drilling expansion5
Information Sources
• 1. Bauers, By Sandy. "Philly Academy Study Finds Gas Drilling Threatens Streams | Philadelphia Inquirer | 10/12/2010." Philly.com: Philadelphia Local News, Sports, Jobs, Cars, Homes. The Philadelphia Inquirer, 12 Oct. 2010. Web. 27 Nov. 2010. <http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20101012_Philly_academy_study_finds_gas_drilling_threatens_streams.html>.
• 2. Pennell, Robert. "Marcellus Shale Drilling Is Biggest Threat to Pennsylvania Wilds | PennLive.com." Central PA Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - PennLive.com. Advance Internet, 14 Nov. 2009. Web. 27 Nov. 2010. <http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2009/11/marcellus_shale_drilling_is_bi.html>.
Information Sources Cont.
• 3. Center for Opinion Research. Franklin & Marshall College Poll March 2010. Rep. no. Poll. March 2010 Franklin & Marshall College Poll. Franklin & Marshall College, 23 Mar. 2010. Web. 27 Nov. 2010. <edisk.fandm.edu/FLI/keystone/pdf/keymar10_1.pdf>.
• 4. Martin, John P. "Natural Gas Industry Spent Heavily on Pennsylvania Republican Candidates | Philadelphia Inquirer | 11/04/2010." Philly.com: Philadelphia Local News, Sports, Jobs, Cars, Homes. The Philadelphia Inquierer, 4 Nov. 2010. Web. 27 Nov. 2010. <http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20101104_Natural_gas_industry_spent_heavily_on_Pennsylvania_Republican_candidates.html>.
• 5. The Green Party of the United States. "III. ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY." Green Party of the United States | Homepage. 21 Sept. 2004. Web. 27 Nov. 2010. <http://www.gp.org/platform/2004/ecology.html#753950>.