Local organizations are starting to form in the community. These groups have formed in response to specific issues or well sites. All of these groups were inspired by MOB and we support them in every way. If you live in the area where these groups are active, consider contacting them also.
Section 27 Alliance
Section 27 Alliance of Butler Township is a concerned citizens' group devoted to stopping residential drilling in Butler Twp., Butler County, PA and making sure that the Butler Township Board of Commissioners enacts ordinances that 1.) benefit all township residents and 2.) defend all residents' rights to clean air, pure water and a healthy environment. W E B S I T E |
Protect Our Children
Protect Our Children, a coalition of parents, concerned citizens and environmental and health advocacy groups, is a campaign focused on protecting school children from the health risks of shale gas development. Our goal is to prohibit oil and gas drilling operations within one mile of schools. Shale gas and oil development is a highly industrial activity. The current oil and gas regulations do not provide adequate setbacks or restrictions to ensure our children’s safety when they are in school, nor do these regulations require any ongoing monitoring or testing of air and water or soil to intercept problems before they become a crisis. The threats to children are real for several reasons. First, by going to school next to any part of this industrial process, children are exposed to toxic pollutants from diesel engines that operate equipment, flaring of gas wells, chemicals used in fracking process, emissions from storage tanks, and impoundment pits. In addition, the ever present danger of fire and explosions exists at facilities that deal with highly volatile chemicals and gases. Third, children are especially vulnerable to the above hazards because their lungs, immune systems and nervous systems are still developing; they have less ability to detoxify than adults; and children will have more exposure to a mix of toxic chemicals over time. The growing number of well sites located next to schools is alarming. In the fall of 2013, in a 5 state region, including PA, NY, MD, OH and WV, there were 223 well sites within a mile of a school, 730 within 2 miles and 33 within ½ mile. (Penn Environment study, “The Spreading Shadow of the Shale Gas Boom: Fracking’s Growing Proximity to Day Cares, Schools and Hospitals”). Most parents and school personnel have little information about the toxicity of this process and some schools have inadequate emergency plans if the school must be evacuated due to an accident. Many school nurses have not received training in what to look for and how to treat long and short term exposure to chemicals and gases related to shale gas development. Many health care professionals may lack training, special equipment and resources to protect everyone and complete public health information is not widely available. Rather than waiting for a disaster to happen, Protect Our Children is advocating for the precautionary principle. We must take the necessary steps to prevent or to minimize exposure. The safety and health of our children is our main concern. In the past, we have protected our children from other dangers by establishing drug-free, tobacco-free, weapon-free zones around schools. It is time to establish a gas infrastructure-free zone one mile around all schools. |