PA Attorney General Calls for New Protections Against Fracking Industry

HARRISBURG, P.A. – Attorney General Josh Shapiro today unveiled a new report that examines the shortcomings of existing fracking regulations in Pennsylvania, chiefly the state’s lack of adequate safeguards to protect public health. This comes on the heels of a two-year Grand Jury investigation into environmental crimes committed by unconventional oil and gas companies across the Commonwealth. State regulation is critical given that gas production activities are exempt from many federal environmental statutes.

A statement follows from Mark Szybist, Senior Attorney at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):  

“The veil is finally being pulled back on the fracking industry’s careless, all too often illegal actions. The Attorney General’s report confirms that the state’s existing regulations don’t do enough to protect Pennsylvanians living near fracking sites or the land and water resources they depend on. It’s a travesty that Pennsylvanians have had to suffer the consequences of lax protections for so long. We look forward to reviewing the proposal for overdue changes that will help keep communities safe, boost the state’s oversight, and hold big polluters accountable – no matter their connections in the legislature.”

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NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.