New Commission Gathers Citizen Input on Gas Drilling

A new commission launching this week will give the residents of Pennsylvania an opportunity to weigh in on Marcellus Shale drilling in a way that could influence lawmakers. 

Former state legislators Carole Rubley and Dan Surra will co-chair the Citizens Marcellus Shale Commission, which will hold hearings across Pennsylvania to gather resident perspectives and produce a final report for policymakers. 

The first of five hearings will be held Wednesday at South Fayette Middle School in South Fayette. 

"Marcellus Shale development will have a huge impact on our commonwealth and it is critical that we get it right," Surra said in a prepared statement. "This commission will give citizens an opportunity to add their voice and bring some necessary balance to this critical debate.

"The commission will give the people of Pennsylvania an opportunity to weigh in on this important issue," Rubley said. "Their input should inform state policies to ensure gas drilling is conducted in a responsible manner." 

The citizens commission was formed by eight civic and environmental organizations, including the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, Clean Water Action, Keystone Progress, League of Woman Voters, Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, PennEnvironment, the Sierra Club and Clear Coalition. 

The creation of the commission is in response to another created earlier this year by Gov. Tom Corbett, the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission. The groups said they believe it is heavy with industry representatives.

The Citizens Marcellus Shale Commission is intended to supplement that work and delve deeper into a variety of issues, including water and air quality, social impacts of gas drilling, the drilling tax and impacts outside Marcellus communities, according to a prepared statement by the group. 

"The governor's commission told part of the story," said Thomas Au of the Sierra Club—Pennsylvania Chapter. "The citizens of Pennsylvania have a different story to tell." 

The commission will hold five hearings across the state in August and September—each one from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the first hour reserved for expert testimony and the remaining two for public input. 

In early October, the commission will produce a report documenting the opinions and concerns of residents to be delivered to Gov. Corbett and the Pennsylvania General Assembly. 

The schedule is as follows: 

• Aug. 31, South Fayette Middle School, 3640 Old Oakdale Road
• Sept. 6, The Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine St., Philadelphia 
• Sept. 13, Lycoming College, Academic Center on Mulberry Street, Room D001, Lower Level, Williamsport 
• Sept. 14, Wysox Volunteer Fire Company, P.O. Box 2, Lake Road, Wysox 
• Week of Sept. 18, Harrisburg, (Details TBA) 

Citizens can sign up to participate at these hearings on the commission's website at http://citizensmarcellusshale.com, or by calling Stephanie Frank at 717-255-7181.