Nov 2, 2013 1 min read

So many thoughts hit me when I read the article Tuesday that Tom Casciola will be running for state representative in the 46th Legislative District against the incumbent Jesse White.

Given what I read, Casciola appears to oppose the actions of the incumbent based on the gas industry and a municipality’s right to determine where gas drilling can take place. I will leave the pros and cons of the gas industry alone in this letter, but will address three questions I have for Casciola:

First, how does he view the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 with respect to the bill exempting fluids used in hydraulic fracturing from the protections under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)?

Second, can the wastewater from hydraulic fracturing be safely treated and then returned into the fresh water streams, lakes or rivers of the commonwealth?

Third, how long does it take for cement and metals to deteriorate underground to the point of permitting water or backwash through the barriers that were installed to prevent such leakage?

Robert Zanakis

Canonsburg