Allegheny County Council is considering an ordinance that would ban fracking on or under county parks property. I hope Allegheny County residents will join me in supporting this ordinance. Here’s why.

Fracking cannot be done safely. According to the the eighth edition of the Compendium of Fracking, fracking negatively impacts our health in significant ways.

Air pollution is a byproduct of fracking. Harmful chemicals such as benzene, a known carcinogen, and formaldehyde, for example, contaminate the air near fracking and drilling locations. Pollutants can drift hundreds of miles downwind from fracking operations. Fracking harms our air.

Water contamination is a known risk of fracking. Accidental spills of fracking discharges have polluted drinking water sources. In addition, the ecology of natural areas, including entire watersheds, have been significantly altered as the result of fracking. Fracking harms our water.

Fracking increases the rate of global climate change. Methane, a greenhouse gas, traps more heat than carbon dioxide and escapes into the atmosphere at every step of the fracking process. Fracking harms our climate.

It is ironic and distressing to think Allegheny County allows fracking on or under our parks, places where we go to recreate through the enjoyment of our natural resources. I call on Allegheny County residents to contact the county council member representing them to ensure an ordinance banning fracking on or under Allegheny County parks is implemented as soon as possible. Let’s commit to making the ban on fracking on or under our Allegheny County parks a reality.

Jill Diskin

Squirrel Hill

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