Apr 8, 2011 3 min read

Interstate caucus heartening

With the importance of the Marcellus shale to Pennsylvania and surrounding states, it was refreshing to see a local congressman take a lead in forming a group focused on the issue.

?U.S. Mark Critz, D-Johnstown, who represents all of Greene County and parts of Washington and Fayette counties, helped start a bipartisan Marcellus Shale Caucus earlier this month with Reps. Dave McKinley, R-W.Va., and Tom Reed, R-N.Y. The aim of the caucus is to tackle concerns about the rapidly growing gas drilling industry and to find a balance between economic development, energy independence and protections for land owners and the environment.

With the gas industry rushing across Pennsylvania and other parts of the region, enforcement has often lagged behind on issues of regulation and monitoring the technologies involved. Recent concerns over radiation in drinking water from drilling wastewater illustrate that point.

Which is why it is a good thing to see Critz and the two Republicans working across party lines on the issue. The reaction from their fellow congressmen has been encouraging as well.

According to a report in the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, nine other representatives have signed up, bringing the caucus to eight Republicans and three Democrats from Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and West Virginia. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., and Bill Shuster, R-Pa., are among the members.

With so much rumor and hype surrounding the shale, it is especially encouraging to see Critz call the caucus will serve as a “bipartisan educational forum.” Our goal is to have a conversation so we can discuss and learn about the effects that developing the Marcellus Shale will have on each of our congressional districts,” Critz and U.S. Rep. Tom Reed wrote in a letter to House members.

The caucus focus has been on education so far, according to the Tribune-Democrat, and we feel strongly that if the body can help separate fact from fiction, it will be a great success. Members of the caucus want to get all sides of the story, including the gas industry, environmental groups and government agencies.

The bipartisan nature of the caucus will be especially important, we believe, if it is to act as a de facto arbiter between the industry and environmental and governmental interests, as well as potential rows between the states.

With so much at stake with the shale, and with its cross-state impact, it is important for the federal government to play an active role.

Critz and the other representatives should be praised for getting the effort off the ground, and we are hopeful that their efforts will pay dividends.