NEWS
Position Paper on Hydraulic Fracturing -- Pike County Democratic Committee
The Pike County Democratic Committee has not taken a position on gas drilling up to now, preferring to wait until the ongoing study of drilling by the bi-partisan committee is complete. However, there are common sense positions that do not require a committee report and recommendations to assert. This position paper discusses the assumptions and principles of the committee relative to Marcellus Shale gas drilling and details a few strategies to pursue to conserve the heart of northeast Pennsylvania, its bedrock.
First, the assumptions. The United States needs energy. Energy is a core resource for lighting, heat, the production of goods, and transportation, among other social goods. At one point, natural gas was the backbone of American lighting and heating systems. Gas is poised to become a much greater proportion of American energy supplies. America needs natural gas supplies.
Despite the need for natural gas, another assumption must be considered concurrently: natural gas supplies are finite. Eventually, America will need to convert completely to renewable energy supplies. Renewable energy is the ONLY long-term solution to both American and global energy needs. The short and intermediate term need is to extend the "life" of non-renewable supplies---like natural gas---as long as possible. This effort is achieved principally through energy efficiency measures. Insulating houses, purchasing more efficient vehicles, using more efficient appliances, traveling on shared transit, and a host of other measures improve the efficiency of our energy use and extend the length of time we can use non-renewable energy sources.
Finally, we assume that America's unique combination of market economics and government regulation is the best system to deliver gas to market. The market allows the fluidity of supply and demand to balance and incentivize prospecting, drilling, and conservation. Strong, fair regulation functions to keep industry excesses in check and focus attention on aspects of the gas industry that are not generally company concerns, like long-term environmental effects, infrastructure impacts, and site remediation.
Don't poison the well
Given the assumptions we have detailed, there are some principles that clearly must be adhered to when drilling the Marcellus Shale. Hydraulic fracturing to make the gas come out more easily is a permanent effect. Hydraulic fracturing fluids are poisonous to humans. Neither injecting poisonous fluids nor creating permanent effects is acceptable. In the frontier period, one of the easiest ways to drive a person from their home was to poison their well. No one should inject poisons into any location where it could eventually reach our wells.
The Committee urges the gas industry to develop non-toxic bio-fracturing fluids that can be broken down and consumed by biological processes. Until we can drink the fracturing fluids (in small quantities, of course), why should we inject them below the wells we drink from?
Don't ruin the streams and lakes
Pennsylvanians love the out-of-doors, and our economy is heavily dependent on water-based recreation. As any parent knows, it is "good, clean, fun." If the installation of wells, collection piping, and pipelines contaminates the lakes and streams of Pike County, our recreation-based and resort-based economy is doomed. Vacation visitors are very sensitive to environmental quality and---in a world with lots of similar, nearby choices (the Catskills, Green Mountains, Adirondacks)---the Poconos and Pike County would likely become far less attractive as a location for vacation homes and tourism. The economic impact of this would be negative and long-term.
Don't ruin the land
The drilling and construction of collection and transmission pipelines is Industrial in nature, and fragments the forest cover of locations where it occurs. Reductions and fragmentation in forest cover are correlated with lower water quality, decreases in certain types of wildlife, and higher erosion and sedimentation rates. In the last century, the deforestation of the Poconos led to massive flooding on the Delaware and Susquehanna, and was universally recognized as a terrible event, kicking off the conservation movement led by native son Gifford Pinchot. We should all refresh our understanding of his ideals and follow his conservation lead.
If you break it, you bought it
As an industrial activity, gas drilling and pipeline construction will destroy under-constructed infrastructure. Any person or company that destroys public property should be held accountable by our elected representatives, just as we---as private individuals---can hold someone responsible for destroying our private property. Towards that end, Pike County's elected officials should document existing infrastructure (roads, bridges, parking, etc.) conditions through methods that are enforceable in court (engineer's reports, certified testing, etc.) so that any negative infrastructure effects of drilling and pipeline construction can be recovered from the companies that cause them. Additionally, the companies should be required to carry local bills of laden (vehicle weight) and tracking equipment (vehicle movements) so that the magnitude of effects can be accurately apportioned if damages occur.
Drilling is not perfect. A certain proportion of drilled wells and pipelines will erupt, ignite, contaminate ground water, leak fracturing fluids, and a number of other types of failures. The committee urges that these failure should planned for, since they are known. Drillers must be ready to correct the problems and failures, and must be held financially responsible for problems and failures by private citizens and all levels of government. It is only fair.
At the state level, a severance tax should be enacted and an environmental damage trust fund established so that any long-term, negative effects of drilling can be corrected or mitigated. Pennsylvanians deserve no less.
First, the assumptions. The United States needs energy. Energy is a core resource for lighting, heat, the production of goods, and transportation, among other social goods. At one point, natural gas was the backbone of American lighting and heating systems. Gas is poised to become a much greater proportion of American energy supplies. America needs natural gas supplies.
Despite the need for natural gas, another assumption must be considered concurrently: natural gas supplies are finite. Eventually, America will need to convert completely to renewable energy supplies. Renewable energy is the ONLY long-term solution to both American and global energy needs. The short and intermediate term need is to extend the "life" of non-renewable supplies---like natural gas---as long as possible. This effort is achieved principally through energy efficiency measures. Insulating houses, purchasing more efficient vehicles, using more efficient appliances, traveling on shared transit, and a host of other measures improve the efficiency of our energy use and extend the length of time we can use non-renewable energy sources.
Finally, we assume that America's unique combination of market economics and government regulation is the best system to deliver gas to market. The market allows the fluidity of supply and demand to balance and incentivize prospecting, drilling, and conservation. Strong, fair regulation functions to keep industry excesses in check and focus attention on aspects of the gas industry that are not generally company concerns, like long-term environmental effects, infrastructure impacts, and site remediation.
Don't poison the well
Given the assumptions we have detailed, there are some principles that clearly must be adhered to when drilling the Marcellus Shale. Hydraulic fracturing to make the gas come out more easily is a permanent effect. Hydraulic fracturing fluids are poisonous to humans. Neither injecting poisonous fluids nor creating permanent effects is acceptable. In the frontier period, one of the easiest ways to drive a person from their home was to poison their well. No one should inject poisons into any location where it could eventually reach our wells.
The Committee urges the gas industry to develop non-toxic bio-fracturing fluids that can be broken down and consumed by biological processes. Until we can drink the fracturing fluids (in small quantities, of course), why should we inject them below the wells we drink from?
Don't ruin the streams and lakes
Pennsylvanians love the out-of-doors, and our economy is heavily dependent on water-based recreation. As any parent knows, it is "good, clean, fun." If the installation of wells, collection piping, and pipelines contaminates the lakes and streams of Pike County, our recreation-based and resort-based economy is doomed. Vacation visitors are very sensitive to environmental quality and---in a world with lots of similar, nearby choices (the Catskills, Green Mountains, Adirondacks)---the Poconos and Pike County would likely become far less attractive as a location for vacation homes and tourism. The economic impact of this would be negative and long-term.
Don't ruin the land
The drilling and construction of collection and transmission pipelines is Industrial in nature, and fragments the forest cover of locations where it occurs. Reductions and fragmentation in forest cover are correlated with lower water quality, decreases in certain types of wildlife, and higher erosion and sedimentation rates. In the last century, the deforestation of the Poconos led to massive flooding on the Delaware and Susquehanna, and was universally recognized as a terrible event, kicking off the conservation movement led by native son Gifford Pinchot. We should all refresh our understanding of his ideals and follow his conservation lead.
If you break it, you bought it
As an industrial activity, gas drilling and pipeline construction will destroy under-constructed infrastructure. Any person or company that destroys public property should be held accountable by our elected representatives, just as we---as private individuals---can hold someone responsible for destroying our private property. Towards that end, Pike County's elected officials should document existing infrastructure (roads, bridges, parking, etc.) conditions through methods that are enforceable in court (engineer's reports, certified testing, etc.) so that any negative infrastructure effects of drilling and pipeline construction can be recovered from the companies that cause them. Additionally, the companies should be required to carry local bills of laden (vehicle weight) and tracking equipment (vehicle movements) so that the magnitude of effects can be accurately apportioned if damages occur.
Drilling is not perfect. A certain proportion of drilled wells and pipelines will erupt, ignite, contaminate ground water, leak fracturing fluids, and a number of other types of failures. The committee urges that these failure should planned for, since they are known. Drillers must be ready to correct the problems and failures, and must be held financially responsible for problems and failures by private citizens and all levels of government. It is only fair.
At the state level, a severance tax should be enacted and an environmental damage trust fund established so that any long-term, negative effects of drilling can be corrected or mitigated. Pennsylvanians deserve no less.
PA Supreme Court ruled 2011 redistricted maps of State Senate and State House invalid. Revert to 2001 maps:
PA State Senate District 20 - 2001 Map
PA
State Senate District 20:
All of PIKE County.
All of PIKE County.
PA State House District 139 & 189 - 2001 Maps
PA State House District 139:
PIKE and WAYNE Counties. Part of PIKE County (TOWNSHIPS of Blooming Grove, Dingman (part, Dingman 2), Greene, Lackawaxen, Milford, Palmyra, Shohola and Westfall and the BOROUGHS of Matamoras and Milford) .
PA State House District 189:
MONROE and PIKECounties. Part of PIKE County (TOWNSHIPS of Delaware, Dingman (part, Dingman 1), Lehman and Porter).
PIKE and WAYNE Counties. Part of PIKE County (TOWNSHIPS of Blooming Grove, Dingman (part, Dingman 2), Greene, Lackawaxen, Milford, Palmyra, Shohola and Westfall and the BOROUGHS of Matamoras and Milford) .
PA State House District 189:
MONROE and PIKECounties. Part of PIKE County (TOWNSHIPS of Delaware, Dingman (part, Dingman 1), Lehman and Porter).