Green Party of Pa. voices area fracking worries

DAWN DRUMIN Times Leader Correspondent

WILKES-BARRE – The Green Party of Pennsylvania led a protest Thursday on Public Square against the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” for natural gas.

The Green Party of Pennsylvania sponsored a rally a day before Earth Day on Public Square Thursday afternoon to protest Gov. Tom Corbett’s policies toward gas-well fracking.

Clark Van Orden photos/The Times Leader

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The focus of the demonstration was the alleged despoiling of local lands and bodies of water by fracking chemicals and Republican Gov. Tom Corbett’s pro-fracking policies.

The protest was timed to occur a day before Earth Day and conducted near the Wilkes-Barre branch of the state . The group’s leaders read prepared statements via microphone and bullhorn as a few passersby watched.

“The gas industry has an excessive amount of control over Pennsylvania government. Last year Gov. Corbett received $1.2 million in contributions from gas companies. Since Corbett’s election, he’s made one decision after another in favor of the gas industry,” said Green Party spokesman Joe Scarnotti.

A statement read by Scarnotti summarized the major reasons why the Green Party objects to fracking. First, fracking releases methane – a greenhouse gas – and radioactive materials into the environment. Second, natural gas drilling would serve as an impediment to an energy policy that develops cleaner forms of energy, such as solar, wind or geothermal. Third, fracking leads to environmental devastation, including the contamination of water sources. Last, the Energy Act of 2005, exempted the natural gas industry from the Safe Drinking Water Act, a federal law that ensures the quality of U.S. drinking water.

“Each gas well uses 5 million gallons of water; only 20 percent is reusable,” said Barb Zangre, a Green Party member who is running for Pittston City Council.

“(This issue) is important to people who rely on air, water and land,” said Carl Romanelli, co-chairman of the Luzerne County Green Party. “If you don’t need to breathe, drink or live on land, it won’t matter to you. It’s important to Northeastern Pennsylvania due to the number of wells being drilled. The places being drilled are the most beautiful and scenic areas of the state.”

Kevin Kratzer of Wyoming watched part of the protest while taking his lunch break from Guard Insurance. “I’d like to ban fracking,” he said. “They’re saying we’re going to see the results (people becoming sick) 10 to 20 years from now.”

Green Party member Chris Zimkonis expressed disappointment with the small turnout at the protest. “Everybody here knows everything already,” he said, noting that almost everyone in attendance was part of the protest. “Nobody cares, I guess.”

DEP Assistant Regional Director Colleen Stutzman said the Wilkes-Barre branch does not issue fracking or drilling permits and there is no oil or gas program housed there. She directed all inquiries to the North Central DEP office in Williamsport, which did not return phone calls Thursday.