Attention-Attention-Attention
Recently a newspaper article appeared in several local papers that really brought great concern to my mind. The article was about a request made by Peregrine Keystone Gas Pipeline LLC. The company has requested to become a Public Utility status company.
After doing a little more research on the subject, I really feel that this action does not have the best interest of the citizens. The information obtained states that if this company does receive the Public Utility status, they would then have the power of “eminent domain.” The plan is to give this private company the right to take the land from the citizens and use the land for private gains. The land in question belongs to the individuals that have worked hard to purchase said land or who have had the land passed down from generation to generation.
This action brings back to mind the bill of goods we were sold with the new energy laws in 2005. At that time, the federal government passed a set of laws that omitted the oil and gas industry from the clean water act and other exemptions/rules which have protected our environment. The omissions became known as the “Halliburton Loophole” act.
As one can see, trying to correct these omissions has been impossible with the current status of the federal government. In fact, there are currently many bills being presented to strip the EPA from any regulatory controls. Budgets are being cut drastically in the name of reducing the budget deficit. Is this really true, or is this a way to enable industry to completely ignore clean air and clean water acts?
Granted, there may be some regulations that should be reviewed, but to put a moratorium for a year on all new regulations scares me. If you talk to your neighbors, you’ll find that some are happy with the new found “gold rush” in the area, while others have suffered greatly. If you read the paper or listen to the news, there has been a lot of controversy about the safety of the drilling operations currently occurring. I have talked to many people who have been directly affected by drilling on their property. I have talked to land owners whose interactions with the drilling industry has been nothing short of a horror movie, while others have no problems as of yet.
What I know for a fact is what I personally observe, and that is the activity on our roads and the damage caused by increased traffic. After doing much water testing and confirming the data through certified testing, there is a definite problem with bromide being dumped into our streams, which will enter our drinking water. Everything that I have been able to investigate has shown that the extractive industry is having a definite impact on our water and air. Adding “eminent domain” to private industry groups seems to be just another component in the scheme to remove our minerals at all costs with little concern to the populous now or in the future.
History of the area shows what can happen if pertinent regulations are dismissed or removed. Dunkard Creek is a perfect example of no regulation and what the ramifications can be. The idea of some private industry coming into an area and being able to take (steal) land from the residents who have faithfully paid their taxes year after year is just unacceptable. Eminent domain has its place but not for the profit of private industry. You will hear the argument that if the industry has public utility status, it can be regulated better. A question, if this is true, then why have the DEP? Is it not their job to protect the citizens of our Commonwealth?
There will be a meeting on this topic on Oct. 26 at the Alumni Hall at Waynesburg University at 6 p.m. I would strongly recommend that all attend. Do not wake up some day with a pipeline going through your property and having absolutely no say in the matter. I know we all have other things going on in our lives, but do not sit back and let “them” handle it for you. If you do, you may not like the outcome, and you may be on the first steps to being controlled by private enterprise. After all, who has worked and taken care of your property?
Let’s face it, we can not even obtain a severance tax to help recuperate the damages being made by the current drilling operations. People, it is time to step up and protect your rights granted in the Constitution. Remember, the Constitution starts with “WE THE PEOPLE.”
As always, give thanks for what you have and protect those things that you value.