Critz co-founds Shale caucus
Aiming to educate colleagues and constituents, Rep. Mark Critz, D-Johnstown, is forming a special caucus on the Marcellus Shale natural gas play.
Joined by co-chair Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., Critz sent a letter last month to colleagues in Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Virginia asking them to join up. The duo conceived the idea during the new members’ retreat in January.
“We want to bring industry in and we want to bring in folks who are on the other side of the equation and get the full realm of the discussion going,” Critz said. “Our goal mainly is to dispel any of the myths or untruths that are being talked about.”
The “myths or untruths” mostly center on environmental concerns, Critz said, citing a recent New York Times article on potential radioactive contamination of Pennsylvania rivers that prompted a pushback from the state Department of Environmental Protection, which said its tests showed acceptable radiation levels.
Critz said he wants to explore: “What are the economic benefits? What are the benefits otherwise? Are these companies coming in, are they good community stewards?”
He said there likely will be field hearings in areas of heavy Shale development, such as Western Pennsylvania, and the caucus could consider legislation at some time in the future.
So far, the group has 11 members: The co-chairs, Reps. Jason Altmire, D-McCandless; Bill Shuster, R-Blair; Lou Barletta, R-Hazelton; Tim Ryan, D-Ohio; David McKinley, R-W.Va.; Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va; Richard Hanna, R-N.Y.; Steve Stivers, R-Ohio; and Bill Johnson, R-Ohio.
Joined by co-chair Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., Critz sent a letter last month to colleagues in Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Virginia asking them to join up. The duo conceived the idea during the new members’ retreat in January.
“We want to bring industry in and we want to bring in folks who are on the other side of the equation and get the full realm of the discussion going,” Critz said. “Our goal mainly is to dispel any of the myths or untruths that are being talked about.”
The “myths or untruths” mostly center on environmental concerns, Critz said, citing a recent New York Times article on potential radioactive contamination of Pennsylvania rivers that prompted a pushback from the state Department of Environmental Protection, which said its tests showed acceptable radiation levels.
Critz said he wants to explore: “What are the economic benefits? What are the benefits otherwise? Are these companies coming in, are they good community stewards?”
He said there likely will be field hearings in areas of heavy Shale development, such as Western Pennsylvania, and the caucus could consider legislation at some time in the future.
So far, the group has 11 members: The co-chairs, Reps. Jason Altmire, D-McCandless; Bill Shuster, R-Blair; Lou Barletta, R-Hazelton; Tim Ryan, D-Ohio; David McKinley, R-W.Va.; Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va; Richard Hanna, R-N.Y.; Steve Stivers, R-Ohio; and Bill Johnson, R-Ohio.