June 9, 2011
An action alert from our friends at the Oil and Gas Accountability Project:
U.S. Department of Energy to hear from citizens of the Marcellus Shale ~ Share your knowledge and tell your story!
Monday, June 13, 2011
7:00pm – 9:00 pm (sign up to speak begins at 6:30 pm)
Washington Jefferson College
60 South Lincoln Street, Washington PA
In May, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced the establishment of the Energy Advisory Board Natural Gas Subcommittee on Fracking Issues to make recommendations on improving the “safety and environmental performance” of hydraulic fracturing in shale formations.
It’s very positive that this critical issue is being investigated at the federal level. But many organizations and citizens loudly voiced concern that many of the Subcommittee’s members are closely tied to the oil and gas industry, that no one directly impacted by shale gas development was included, and that meetings were only being held in Washington, DC, far from the areas already damaged by drilling.
Thanks to this outcry, the Subcommittee just announced it will hold a meeting in Washington, PA, next week.
Members need to hear from people whose water, property, and health have been impacted by gas drilling, and they need to be told why current industry practices and regulations are not nearly enough to protect our communities.
This meeting is open to the public but space is limited and comments will be limited to two minutes. Those wishing to speak should arrive early to sign up.
If you can’t make it there in person or have more information to share, you can submit a written statement and other documentation to:
Renee Stone
U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington D.C. 20585
or by email to: shalegas@hq.doe.gov.
For more information see:
New York Times article: Energy Dept. Panel to Revise Standards for Gas Extraction, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/07/science/earth/07frack.html?_r=2&hpw
Natural Gas Subcommittee on Fracking Issues website: www.shalegas.energy.gov
OGAP Press release on the make-up of the Subcommittee: http://earthworksaction.org/PR_DOE-fracking-panel.cfm
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