Letter to the editor: Shapiro needs to ban fracking
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Regarding the article “Rundown of President Trump’s executive orders on Day 1 — from pardons to TikTok” (Jan. 21, TribLive): In his inaugural address, Donald Trump made his foolish anti-environment and anti-health priorities clear. It is more critical than ever that Gov. Josh Shapiro stand up to Trump’s reckless “Drill Baby Drill” agenda and fight for Pennsylvanians living on the front lines of fracking.
Pennsylvania is the second largest fracked gas producer in the country — with a public health record to match. Western Pennsylvania communities live with some of the worst air quality in the country and are exposed daily to a slew of cancer-causing chemicals in our air and drinking water. It’s no surprise that 9 in 10 Pennsylvanians want better fracking regulation. Thirty-five municipalities have already passed anti-fracking ordinances to keep this destructive industry out of our communities.
Unfortunately, Shapiro has done more to embrace fracking than stop it. Since becoming governor, Shapiro has courted corporate influence, including enabling fracking industry companies like CNX to have a say in their own regulation.
Shapiro must chart a new course that stands up to Trump’s fracking embrace. Pennsylvanians need leadership ready to protect our health and silence the destructive fossil-fuel industry interests who profit from our pollution. Food & Water Watch calls on Shapiro to ban fracking across Pennsylvanian.
Megan McDonough
Whitehall The writer is Pennsylvania state director of Food & Water Watch.