Apr 4, 2017 2 min read

I was honored to accompany nearly a dozen fellow grandparents and parents to Harrisburg recently for meetings with state legislators to discuss the issue of oil and gas air pollution. It came as an unfortunate surprise to learn that our local elected leaders are representing the oil and gas industry and ignoring their constituents. Nowhere is this more evident than in our legislators’ support for Senate Bill 175.

This bill would make it impossible for our state legislators to craft rules that exceed what the federal government has in place, to limit the harmful air pollution that is leaking from well sites and related structures. We are getting zero help from the Trump administration and the Environmental Protection Agency in this regard, since Trump wants to cut funding and personnel, thus killing current and future rules to protect our air.

We are just seeking commonsense rules to identify, repair, and stop the leaking of methane, and all the other toxic compounds that are emitted. This would be a win for the people who have to breath the air, a win for industry because more of the product that makes them money would flow through the pipelines, and a win for jobs available to companies that specialize in gas-leak mitigation. This is already being done in the western part of the United States with great success.

I am calling on our state senator, Camera Bartolotta, to reconsider her position as a co-sponsor of SB 175. It amazes me that our elected officials would cede their power to govern our great commonwealth to the federal government. Responsible energy development includes taking into account public health concerns. We are fierce advocates for the health of our children and grandchildren, and will not sit by while legislators do the bidding of special interests.

Art Brogley

Scenery Hill