Oct 10, 2013 2 min read

On Monday, the Observer-Reporter ran a half-baked story by Kevin Begos of the Associated Press, “Some anti-drilling activists change tone,” with several inaccuracies and half-truths about me.

In Begos’ attempt to take a swipe at the Pittsburgh environmental group Marcellus Protest, he incorrectly stated that I was a member of that group. The website version of this story also included a ridiculous quote from Range Resources’ Matt Pitzarella suggesting that I might somehow now “endorse drilling,” but this could not be further from the truth, especially after getting to know Range Resources even better.

Fact of the matter is that we discovered Range Resources was already drilling into our family heirs’ gas rights without any of our family members ever having signed a lease. Instead of suing Range Resources, family members who own some of the surface rights elected to sign a protective lease to prevent surface activities on their land. If I didn’t sign a lease at that point, Range Resources threatened to keep all the money from my gas, without paying me a dime. Was I to get ripped off or make the second least desirable choice and sign a lease with them?

I’m happy to report that we recently donated $1,000 of Range Resources’ money to support Clean Water Action, one group that has played a major role in reducing frack wastewater dumping into our streams and rivers. You are invited to read my blog which includes more details at: www.donnan.com/Blog_Begos.htm

Robert Donnan

McMurray