In a powerfully symbolic victory for the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, Pittsburgh bans drilling for natural gas.
By unanimous vote, the Pittsburgh city council has banned drilling for natural gas within the city’s boundaries, becoming the first city in Pennsylvania to pass such a measure. The ordinance, drafted by the
Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF), was adopted by a 9-0 vote on November 16th.
Gas flare, photo courtesy Free.foto.com
The ban in Pittsburgh comes at a time when the growing practic
e of “fracking”—the high pressured injection of water containing sand and toxic chemicals to exert explosive pressure on gas-containing shale formations—has come under increased scrutiny and criticism because of its health, safety and environmental hazards. While liberating gas by “fracking” is no doubt highly lucrative for gas companies and property owners who sell their mineral right to gas companies, it has already resulted in several high profile calamities, including the intrusion of natural gas into drinking water, literally causing tap water to catch fire, a phenomenon illustrated below in a short trailer for Josh Fox’s recent documentary, “Gaslands.” Although drilling areas are located mainly in the east, southeast and Texas (including the entire states of West Virginia and Louisiana), there is also drilling in much Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado.