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Temple University Teach-In, Gas Drilling in PA

Thu Mar 18, 2010 / Storm Water

There will be an all day teach-in on Thursday, March 18, at Temple University, sponsored by the Temple University Environmental Engineering Department. The event will be about gas drilling from various perspectives, and there will be speakers, panels, and videos all day and in various rooms. The teach-in will include citizen groups, scientists, environmental organization representatives and experts in the law and practical aspects of watersheds and gas drilling - in both panel discussions and presentations, including chances to ask questions. Numerous citizen groups from around the state have already become mobilized against the current gas production practices here in Pennsylvania, and we would like your help getting Philadelphians to be aware of the issues associated with gas production in their watershed.

In an effort to increase awareness leading up to the teach-in, we are promoting a series of free film screenings documenting the effects of gas drilling, including Spit Estate, A Land Out of Time, and Rural Impacts. We are currently seeking out organizations and venues willing to host these events before March 18th, so see below if you are interested in helping or attending.

BACKGROUND
As you may already know, the recent rush to drill for natural gas in Pennsylvania is causing destruction to the health, welfare and sustainability of our residents and community statewide; the gas production industry is exempt from the federal hazardous waste legislation (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act), and many essential provisions of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act; the Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act; Clean Air Act; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act; and the National Environmental Policy Act.  Although there may not yet be gas wells drilled in the city of Philadelphia, like there is in the downtown of Fort Worth, Texas, the drinking water for all Philadelphians comes from the Delaware River Basin (60% from the Delaware River and 40% from the Schuykill River - both in the Delaware River Basin watershed).  

During the past few years, land owners in the Delware River watershed have been selling gas leases and mineral rights to their land.  The DEP has allowed permitting of gas production sites in flood plains, burial of hazardous gas production waste one foot under the ground on rural properties, and put fines of approximately $7 for every gallon spilled of extremely toxic chemical products into waterways. The quality of the Delaware River and Philadelphia's drinking and recreational water is threatened by the looming presence of gas production waste contamination.  Gas production waste contains radioactive materials, heavy metals such as lead and mercury, and many carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting chemicals which often cannot be filtered from the water supply with even the most advanced and expensive technologies.  As more gas wells and production facilities pop up over the watershed, the threat to Philadelphia's drinking water will only increase.

The threat that gas production poses to Philadelphia's drinking water can be stopped.  New York City's environmental officials evaluated the risk to New York residents and came to the conclusion that there should be no drilling in New York City's watershed, citing that a new and equipped water treatment facility would increase the cost of water by 30% for each customer, and the risks to New Yorker's health are too immense.  The Mayor of New York City is pressuring officials to ban drilling. Philadelphians should not bear the burden of increased cost of water for drinking and bathing either; we have the choice to refuse the increased economic, social and personal costs associated with hazardous gas production practices in our watershed.


SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GAS PRODUCTION
* NYC's Mayor Blumberg has vowed to keep the drilling out of its  watershed based on the study NYC DEC commissioned.  Philadelphia's water system stands just as great a risk as NYC's. The final NYC DEP report was released 12/23 and stated that 6,000 gas wells in the city's watershed would pose "catastrophic risks" and must be opposed.

 

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/press_releases/09-15pr.shtml

*According to Dr. Theo Colborn  "associated pollution [from gas drilling] has reached the stage where it is contaminating essential life support systems - water, air, and soil - and causing harm to the health of humans, wildlife, domestic animals, and vegetation."    http://www.endocrinedisruption.com/chemicals.introduction.php

Regional gas production presents environmental justice issues that affect all residents in the greater Philadelphia area, for more regional and technical information, please see:
*Damascus Citizens for Sustainability http://damascuscitizens.org/
*Drilling has Consequences http://www.landandwater.org/
*ProPublica http://www.propublica.org/series/buried-secrets-gas-drillings-environmental-threat


*Philadelphia's current water statistics: http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/whatsinyourwater/PA/Philadelphia-Water-Department/1510001/*Philadelphia Water Department http://www.phila.gov/water/urban_water_cycle.html
*Natural gas production exemptions from federal environmental protection legislation: http://www.ewg.org/reports/Free-Pass-for-Oil-and-Gas/Oil-and-Gas-Industry-Exemptions

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Promote the Marcellus Shale Teach-in on Thursday, March 18, at Temple University, by telling your members and friends and by adding the event to your group's calender.  Leading up to the teach-in, we are also planning on having free film showings of documentaries concerning the harmful consequences of gas drilling, and we could use any help in finding locations, hosting, or promotion. We welcome and encourage any ideas of how to inform and mobilize Philadelphia residents against the looming threat of gas production in our watershed.


CONTACT
Maddie - if you would like to host, sponsor, promote, or attend a documentary film screening related to gas drilling issues.
Nastassja - for more information about gas production issues and for assistance writing press releases or creating flyers.
Barb - to learn more about the work of Damascus Citizens for Sustainability.
Temple University Environmental Engineering Department (215.204.7814) - to inquire about the details of the March 18th teach-in.