Following a special report that pointed the finger at the shale gas industry for cases of childhood cancer in southwest Pennsylvania and a letter from residents calling for the industry to be shut down to determine whether or not there is a connection, the Marcellus Shale Coalition sent its own letter to Gov. Tom Wolf asking him to “reject the ridiculous request,” according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“Fundamentally, it is shameful to exploit the very real and heartbreaking issues associated with childhood cancer; they should not be fodder to advance a political agenda,” David J. Spigelmyer, president of the coalition, stated Monday in a letter to Mr. Wolf.

The Marcellus Shale Coalition was created to support the shale gas drilling and fracking industry.

Learn more: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette > Industry criticizes ‘ridiculous’ request to halt shale gas drilling