Public given opportunity to sound off on gas industry
Jim Rosenberg of Redstone Township holds up a photograph to illustrate his concerns over Marcellus shale gas well drilling operations in the region. Rosenberg spoke for five minutes Tuesday evening as part of a public forum hosted by the Fayette County Marcellus Shale Task Force.
Ralph A. Mazza, Fayette County Marcellus Shale Task Force member, answers a question from the audience during a public forum held Tuesday evening.
?The opinions and concerns of people affected by Marcellus shale exploration in Fayette County were heard Tuesday during a 鈥淧ublic Sound Off鈥� meeting held by the county蘑菇视频 Marcellus Shale Task Force.
About 20 people attended the meeting, with several people presenting their views, both positive and negative, regarding the impact the natural gas industry is having on Fayette County and its residents.
The purpose of the meeting, according to task force chairwoman Angela Zimmerlink, was to hear public input directly from the people who are being impacted.
John Piwowar of Uniontown, a retired farmer, said he has worked with Atlas Energy in the past and has three shallow wells on farming property in North Union Township, in addition to having leased his gas rights.
Piwowar said Atlas has been easy to work with and that his property was restored following drilling, however he said people in negotiations with gas companies need to be clear about their expectations and not afraid to ask questions.
Piwowar said he also thinks gas companies use public resources, such as the roads and water for fracking gas wells, and that they should pay an impact fee to make up for the resources they use.
Communication is necessary when dealing with gas companies, Piwowar said, noting that he does think the gas companies could do a better job of communicating with people.
In addition, Piwowar, who has been involved with the Greater Redstone Clearwater Initiative for more than 10 years, said Redstone Creek discharges 5.9 million gallons of water a day that could be used to frac gas wells with if the iron oxide is removed from the water.
Having a gas company use the water would be a 鈥渨in-win situation鈥� for everyone, he said, because gas companies, after a plant is built and the iron oxide is removed, would have the water they need to frac wells without pulling from local waterways and a polluted stream would be cleaned.
Piwowar said he蘑菇视频 contacted gas companies and state agencies about using the water but that no company nor the state has expressed an interest.
鈥淚t would be an excellent source of water for the gas industry,鈥� he said.
Several other people expressed concerns regarding the industry and the environmental and health hazards it poses.
Jim Rosenberg of Redstone Township said frac water should be treated as 鈥渉azardous material鈥� and questioned why it蘑菇视频 not.
David Lambie of Dunbar said profits aren鈥檛 worth endagering the health and welfare of future generations.
鈥淲hen they鈥檙e done drilling these wells all those Oklahoma and Texas license plates will be gone and we鈥檒l still be here. We need to wake up,鈥� Lambie said.
For more information about the Fayette County Marcellus Shale Task Force visit www.mshaletaskforce.org.