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They're voting to give frackers immunity today [Pennslyvania]
March 12, 2013
The insanity of this is so nauseatingly mind-boggling!
Dear A,
I can’t believe it.
As early as 1 p.m. today, the Pennsylvania Senate could vote to give drilling companies sweeping immunity for fracking with polluted mine drainage water – making it virtually impossible to hold them accountable to accidents and spills. [1]
The oil and gas industry has an atrocious record of spills and accidents in Pennsylvania -- granting them immunity for risky activity is the last thing we should do.
In a move that mixes the worst of Pennsylvania’s past pollution with its current one, Senate Bill 411 removes liability for gas drilling companies when they use contaminated water from abandoned coal mines.
What could this mean?
- When drilling companies have spills or accidents, it may be virtually impossible to hold them accountable.
- If you own property adjacent to or downstream from one of these accidents, you couldn’t take actions to recover damages.
- And the bill is so vague that it’s even unclear if enforcement agencies could hold fracking companies accountable under existing laws if they chose to violate them.
Then, please forward this to everyone you know who want gas drilling companies to be held accountable for their pollution.
Sincerely,
David Masur
PennEnvironment Director
PS. PennEnvironment’s research has shown that gas drilling companies have had thousands of violations of our cornerstone environmental laws in the past few years. With this track record, it would be outrageous to grant them immunity from future accidents, spills and violations. Take action today.
[1] Senate Bill 411, PA General Assembly.
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