Feb 3, 2016 1 min read

Gov. Tom Wolf took a bold step last week in announcing rules around methane pollution from oil and gas operations in Pennsylvania. It is an essential step, and I applaud his leadership.

Here in Washington County, there is a tremendous tension between those for whom drilling has changed their lives in the form of added income, and those who are suffering the negative impacts of this heavy industrial activity. Drilling pollution, such as methane emissions spewed into our air, contributes to an increased level of asthma attacks and lung and heart disease, and there are many more health impacts we’re still struggling to quantify.

What we do know is that methane emissions that are vented, flared and leaked can be captured and controlled with technology that’s readily and inexpensively available right now. This is exactly what Wolf is proposing to do.

Surely, people on all sides of the natural gas debate can agree that we must move immediately to protect our children, families and communities from the harmful consequences of the oil and gas drilling activity all around us.

Lois Bower-Bjornson

Scenery Hill