DEP not protecting us
The headline over Susie Kelly’s excellent story on July 29 was “Marcellus now a public health matter, are we protected?”
If you dig into the story you will probably come to a conclusion that we’re not protected and it’s a public health matter.
More important than a new prison, or the expansion of the Connellsville Airport or open records, this affects all of us. My close friend Marigrace Butella knows what I’m saying first hand. It affects the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.
Marigrace and I talk nearly every day. Some of her stories will curl your hair. They involve real people with real and deadly health problems. Our politicians don’t seem to care. Why? It’s all about the money, donations and favors.
One of the things I have grown to know and love about Marigrace is her caring of people, regardless of where they live, their political party or the color of their skin. Many in Dunbar Township know this. She has been re-elected five times.
When she calls, many know she wants an answer not yesterday or tomorrow but now. She has no bounds all at her own expense. Our neighbor to the north, the state of New York have banned the drilling of the Marcellus shale. I wonder why. It knows of the chemicals being flushed down wells and brought back up again and disposed of God knows where. Our DEP says the chemicals can remain a secret.
Jobs you say? How many from Fayette County or Pennsylvania for that matter? No, Susie and Marigrace, you are both right. We are certainly not being protected.
Bob Foltz
Uniontown