Both sides agree on tough new fracking standards

[grntuscarora]

Source: AP


PITTSBURGH — Some of the nation's biggest oil and gas companies have made peace with environmentalists, agreeing to a voluntary set of tough new standards for fracking in the Northeast that could lead to a major expansion of drilling.

The program announced Wednesday will work a lot like Underwriters Laboratories, which puts its familiar UL seal of approval on electrical appliances that meet its standards.

In this case, drilling and pipeline companies will be encouraged to submit to an independent review of their operations. If they are found to be abiding by a list of stringent measures to protect the air and water from pollution, they will receive the blessing of the new Pittsburgh-based Center for Sustainable Shale Development, created by environmentalists and the energy industry.

Read more: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/03/both_sides_agree_on_tough_new.html

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The industry is generously going to "self-police"! Well, by golly. Guess we can all rest easy now!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. That is a hopeful development. I hope it works as promised.

[grntuscarora]

3. When I read the words

"voluntary" and "self-policing" in connection with the drilling industry, color me skeptical. And when the industry pay-off will be a "major expansion of drilling" in the Northeast (as if we don't have enough already), well, the word "gullible" pops into my head.

But, yes, it will be nice if it works as promised.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I know enough about these environmental groups to know that they would not do this lightly.

They are militant.

I trust their judgment.

I do not think they're being gullible, at all.

Time will tell, of course.

[grntuscarora]

5. I did not realize

the Heinz Foundation was militant.

Another concern I have is the pressure this will put on communities who would prefer no fracking at all---and places like NY, where a moratorium on fracking was recently put in place. The industry will use this like a cudgel, I fear.

But, I'll keep a happy thought

[immoderate]

2. "Sustainable Shale Development" is a bit oxymoronic...

I mean the shale doesn't regenerate. At least not in pre-geologic time.

--imm

[xtraxritical]

10. I care about the water. Shale? who cares.

[yellowcanine]

15. Environmentally Sustainable is what is meant.

Still may not be very easy to do, but certainly they need to try harder than they have been.

[immoderate]

16. They're making a joke!

Among other things, fracking is responsible for water pollution, global warming, and earthquakes! Hard to fit those things into "sustainable."

--imm

[Champion Jack]

6. Fracking is not safe.

Well casings leak, the fluids that come up are often radioactive , and the process takes huge amounts of water out of the natural cycle permanently .

[valerief]

7. So both sides agree on lip service. What else is new? No sense paying

off my mortgage if the frackers are just going to blow up or sinkhole the Northeast, not to mention poison our water. More.

[forestpath]

8. "Voluntary" = not worth shit.

[femmocrat]

9. More from the Post-Gazette: Link inside:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/breaking/fracking-companies-enviromentalists-and-philanthropies-join-forces-680093/?print=1

[ramblin_dave]

11. Americans Against Fracking Denounces New Fracking “Standards”

Statement of Josh Fox on Behalf of Americans Against Fracking



Washington, D.C.– “The Center for Sustainable Shale Development, a new greenwashing group backed by the oil and gas industry, will not mitigate the economic, environmental and public health threats posed by hydraulic fracturing (fracking). That is because no amount of regulations can ever make fracking safe. It is an inherently dangerous practice.



more: http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/pressreleases/americans-against-fracking-denounces-new-fracking-standards/

[grntuscarora]

14. Ayup.

That's what I figured.

The industry is trying to divide and conquer environmental groups by tossing a bone that some will settle for.

[november3rd]

12. Nigeria

Anybody who goes along with this should contact my cousin in Nigeria right away! He has five million dollars of inheritance, and he could get it out of the country with your help.

Plus, he promises to make it worth your while.

[daleo]

13. Voluntary standards are expressions of good intentions

And there's a well-known road paved with good intentions.