I attended the conditional use hearing for the Briston natural gas well pad on Dutchtown Road in Butler Twp. on Monday, Apr. 20. A number of residents from the Dutchtown Road area spoke of their concerns to the commissioners. The commissioners referred those concerns to the XTO representatives present, who gave the usual reassurances that seemed to satisfy township officials, but not the residents in attendance. After the commissioners gave their approval for the land use development for the well pad (it complies with the ordinance), a woman behind me said: "I don't know why they even bother to have a hearing; it seems they have their minds made up beforehand."
I felt sad for those residents. A number of people are frustrated with the industrialization of rural life represented by the shale-gas boom. A number of people are joining or forming groups and fighting back. There is quite a battle going on, and believe it or not, there have even been some victories for the underdogs. Win or lose, it beats sitting on one's hands and playing the part of a helpless victim.
Groundswell Rising is an empowering film that documents the battles being waged by grassroots organizations against the most powerful corporations in the world. The film is being screened by Marcellus Outreach Butler on Saturday, Apr. 25, 12:30 p.m. at the Butler Public Library. If you're tired of feeling or being told that there's nothing you can do about the oil and gas industry, this is a film you need to see. I hope residents of Dutchtown Road will come see the film, and also any municipal officials who feel there's nothing they can do but comply with the wishes of the oil and gas industry.
j.p.m.
I felt sad for those residents. A number of people are frustrated with the industrialization of rural life represented by the shale-gas boom. A number of people are joining or forming groups and fighting back. There is quite a battle going on, and believe it or not, there have even been some victories for the underdogs. Win or lose, it beats sitting on one's hands and playing the part of a helpless victim.
Groundswell Rising is an empowering film that documents the battles being waged by grassroots organizations against the most powerful corporations in the world. The film is being screened by Marcellus Outreach Butler on Saturday, Apr. 25, 12:30 p.m. at the Butler Public Library. If you're tired of feeling or being told that there's nothing you can do about the oil and gas industry, this is a film you need to see. I hope residents of Dutchtown Road will come see the film, and also any municipal officials who feel there's nothing they can do but comply with the wishes of the oil and gas industry.
j.p.m.
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