Wednesday, March 2, 2011

City Council Reacts to Possible Drinking Water Contamination From Marcellus Shale Drilling

A recent news report in the New York Times identified western Pennsylvania as the "epicenter of contamination" from radiation in hydraulic fracturing wastewater, which is often sent to treatment plants incapable of removing it before releasing it into waterways.

City Council today unanimously approved a resolution calling for drinking water suppliers (the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority on the Allegheny River and Penn American Water on the Monongahela) to begin testing immediately and to continue the tests regularly.

Councilman Doug Shields says drilling companies are putting lives at risk for their own profit, and Councilman Bill Peduto says it will be an economic catastrophe as well if our air and water are not clean because no one will want to live here or do business here.

Senator Bob Casey and Congressman Edward Markey have also asked for testing and disclosure.

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