Sierra Club Launches Campaign To Regulate Marcellus Drilling
The WV Sierra Club has launched a campaign to deal with the gaping
holes in regulation of Marcellus Shale gas wells. Potential dangers
from this relatively new type of drilling range all the way from
streams being sucked dry to chemical poisoning of first responders.
The WV DEP only has 17 inspectors for 55 counties for thousands of
gas wells. Everyone has a different take on the Marcellus “gold
rush” but one thing’s for sure. Unless we pressure our legislators
to enact laws that will guard our birthright and our children’s
future, our hills and hollows will be a very different place.
The idea is simply to build a bloc of voters who will press their
county commissions, their legislators and the WV DEP to enact
sensible regulation on the water, land and air issues caused by
Marcellus drilling and then hold their feet to the fire at election
time and during the legislative session. No one should feel alone
or powerless or unduly pressured by drillers. We need to educate
ourselves and our neighbors and turn that knowledge to power. We are
all in this together and there is nothing more important than
safeguarding the natural systems on which all life depends.
Many of us have lived on our land for decades using water wells for
drinking, washing, cooking….the essentials of life. They may have
the right to extract the gas, but you have the right to a healthy
environment and only a careful set of rules can prevent water
contamination. Yes, we need jobs and prosperity, but without clean
water, nothing works.
There’s much you can do. Talk to your neighbors and county
commissioners. Call your legislators toll-free (1-877-565-3447).
Learn your rights at www.wvsoro.org.Visit the
WV Sierra Club websites at www.marcellus-wv.com or
contact Chuck Wyrostok, Sierra Club Outreach Organizer at outreach@marcellus-wv.com
or toll-free 877 252 0257.