Photo by Bill Belitkus

At a crowded hearing in Cranberry Township on December 14, citizens and environmental groups called on the Environmental Quality Board to set new rules for the treatment of waste water from Marcellus Shale gas drilling operations.

Cathy Pedlar of the Allegheny Defense Project writes:

We submitted comments for the Allegheny Defense Project (ADP), the Pennsylvania Environmental Network (PEN), and the Pennsylvania Lake Erie Watershed Association (PLEWA). It was great! The testimony by environmental advocates managed to outnumber the industry testimony 15 to 5. Earth Justice, Sierra Club, Clean Water Action, the League of Woman Voters, Center for Coalfield Justice, and PennFuture were among the environmental groups represented at the hearing. Numerous citizens also spoke in favor of strong standards. Industry was represented by the Independent Oil and Gas Association of Pennsylvania, some chamber of commerce types, and local mining and drilling businesses and organizations.

There is time to submit YOUR comments, suggestions or objections regarding the proposed regulation BEFORE February 5, 2010. Get some talking points.

Written Comments — Mail to:
Environmental Quality Board
P.O. Box 8477
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8477

E-Mail Comments — Submit to RegComments at dep dot state dot pa dot us. The subject line should read “Re: 25 PA Code Ch. 95 Wastewater Treatment Requirements”, and don’t forget to include a return name and address,