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HOEFFEL SPEAKS ON MARCELLUS SHALE IN PITTSBURGH

By JOE HOEFFEL 2010

“There is no issue that is more important to me in this election than access to safe, clean drinking water,” said Terri Davin, a resident of Greene County and board member of Friends of Dunkard Creek.

Davin and Joe Hoeffel, Democratic candidate for governor, spoke to campaign volunteers and assembled media about responsible extraction of Marcellus Shale natural gas and the concerns about public health that are associated with it.

Davin continued, “I am concerned about the impact that drilling is going to have on our water supply, and Joe Hoeffel is the only candidate who is talking about this, and that’s why I’m supporting him in this race.”

Joe Hoeffel laid out his plan for responsible development of the Marcellus Shale gas industry.  Hoeffel is calling for:

A robust severance tax on the gas companies that would raise a projected $300 million in its first year.  This money would be used to fund the department of environmental protection’s inspection and enforcement, to invest in the infrastructure and housing costs that the industry will bring to the communities affected by drilling, and to expand programs in our community colleges to build a strong, adaptable workforce throughout the state;
A moratorium on issuing more permits until new wastewater regulations are in place and enforceable; and
A moratorium on the leasing of additional state lands for drilling until a comprehensive study of all state land is performed.

“I challenge the other candidates in this race to join me in calling for a moratorium on issuing new permits,” Hoeffel said.  “This is the first step that we need to take now to ensure that our water supply is protected.”

After the press conference, Joe Hoeffel and volunteers made phone calls to voters to discuss the challenges that drilling in the Marcellus Shale raises and to discuss Hoeffel’s proposals.

Hoeffel’s plan for responsible natural resource management in the Marcellus Shale is available at http://joehoeffel2010.com/environment/marcellus-shale

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April 30, 2010 at 4:24 pm

--pa2010.com Staff

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