Court Rules in Favor of Pennsylvania Towns
Saturday, July 28, 2012
According to The Los Angeles Times, a Pennsylvania court overturned part of the state’s natural gas development law. The key part of the law strips towns and municipalities of zoning rights, instead giving the rights to state agencies.
Those against the law said it was dangerous.
Read it:
“Critics of the law, Act 13, argued that it would have compelled municipalities to allow hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, almost anywhere a company requested, without taking into account surroundings such as nearby schools, homes and waterways.”
The article continues:
“In ruling for the plaintiffs, the four-judge majority on the state appellate court said that local zoning provided for “rational development” so “there is not a ‘pig in the parlor instead of the barnyard.'” The ruling can be appealed to the state Supreme Court.”
Pennsylvania has been sued by seven municipalities.
The real question here is, “Who has control over fracking, states or municipalities?”. Though Pennsylvania’s provisions are similar to provisions in other states including Ohio.
» Via: The Las Angeles Times › Court rules for towns in Pennsylvania fracking suit
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.