Letter to the editor: Compromise to protect Pa. residents

On Nov. 2, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and CNX Resources Corp. President and CEO Nick Deiuliis publicly agreed that CNX will improve its environmental monitoring and chemical disclosures. This step forward does not address major problems produced by fracking, including the tremendous amount of radioactive and biochemically toxic waste produced. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 160,000 gallons of wastewater is produced each day in just the first five days after a fracturing job.

On July 11, a public hearing was held on the proposal to convert an old production well, Orville Higinbotham No. 1 in Nicholson Township, to a Class II-D commercial brine disposal well through which large volumes of fracking wastewater are pumped under high pressure. Following the hearing, this proposal was withdrawn by “the permittee,” G2 STEM LLC of Fairfax, Va.

Many residents shared concerns, including testimony on abandoned mines, water flow nearby and likely paths for contamination of the Monongahela River.

To ensure safety from such industrial pollution, state Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa drafted House Bill 1656, banning injection of fracking waste into wells throughout Pennsylvania. This has bipartisan support in the General Assembly.

Until HB 1656 becomes law, expect more Class II-D well proposals. Townships can pass rules excluding such land use. Work to protect your private drinking water. Call your representatives and ask for their support of HB 1656.

As Shapiro stated Nov. 2, Pennsylvania legislators should work together, listening to each other and designing compromises to protect our air, water and health.

Dr. Barbara Brandom

Highland Park

The writer is retired from the anesthesiology department at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.