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December 2012 / January 2013
Penn State fracking reports questioned by Molly Cochran Penn State released three reports about natural gas drilling, “Emerging Giant, Prospects and Economic Impacts of Developing the Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Play,” in 2009. An update was followed in 2010, and finally “Impacts and Future Potential,” was released in 2011, according to the complaint filed by the Responsible Drilling Alliance. Of these three reports, the Marcellus Shale Coalition gave funding to at least one that was released. This caused a stir among advocacy groups, like the Responsible Drilling Alliance, because the majority of members on the Marcellus Shale Coalition are drilling companies. The Responsible Drilling Alliance, a nonprofit organization located in Williamsport, filed a complaint about these
research articles. According to the complaint that was filed to the Middle State Commission on Higher Education, the articles were said to have made “exaggerated projections on economic development, jobs, and tax revenues.” Head of the Responsible Drilling Alliance Jon Bogle said that Penn State used these reports as a “political weapon,” because these reports were very influential in shaping Tom Corbett’s policy toward hydraulic fracturing. According to Bogle, Penn State was advocating against the tax for drilling because the severance tax could prohibit economic development. “[For a] main institution to take sides, it can be very damaging,” said Bogle. The Responsible Drilling Alliance requests two things: Penn State take its name off of the reports and have true research and advocacy.
“[Penn State] allowed their reputation to be put on the line.” John Bogle, Head of the Responsible Drilling Alliance “[Penn State] allowed their reputation to be put on the line,” said Bogle. Middle State Commission on Higher Education is located in Philadelphia and can’t discuss complaints over the phone. There was no comment from them as of press time. The Earth and Mineral Sciences Dean William Easterling responded to the complaint filed against Penn State. Easterling contacted the Responsible
Drilling Alliance and told them there was a revised report that met the research policies, and the college of Earth and Mineral Sciences stands by the right of all faculty members to do research. The two faculty members of the Earth and Mineral Science College who released these reports were Robert Watson and Tim Considine. Considine transferred to the University of Wyoming to teach and Watson retired from Penn State after these reports were released. “I must confess the [original reports could have been] packaged more appropriately. The reports had the Penn State Shield, and it didn’t have a disclaimer,” said Easterling. The revised report that was released had the disclaimer, and there was only one
see
Reports, pg. 15
Annual Glow Float illuminates river advocacy by Brenda Palmer On October 13, 2012, 31 canoe and kayak enthusiasts gathered in the parking lot of the Inn at Edgewater Acres in Alexandria, Pa. for the third annual Juniata Clean Water Partnership’s Glow Float (JCWP). The JCWP is a non-profit regional coalition of conservation organizations, county planners, community groups, watershed groups and citizens. The Juniata River watershed covers a substantial portion of the state including Huntingdon, Blair, Bedford, Fulton, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry Counties. The non-profit’s mission of building and sustaining local capacity through education, assistance and advocacy, covers a lot of territory. This night focuses on river awareness of the fantastic and under-valued resource that is the Juniata River. The Glow Float is one of several annu-
al events that promote awareness and stewardship of the river through recreational enjoyment of the river. Another is an annual sojourn held for 3-7 days in June. Each year highlights either the main canal of the Juniata River or one of its branches: the Frankstown branch, Little Juniata branch or the Raystown branch. Canoes and kayaks in all forms were lined up waiting for the guides from Rothrock Outfitters to arrive with rental boats for those that did not have their own and to load everyone’s boats to shuttle upstream to the entry point. Participants decorated themselves and their boats with glow stick necklaces. A few went a little further and wore costumes over their life jackets. It was dusk as the paddlers slipped their boats into the chilly water. This year they had added the challenge of a moonless night. The water level was a little low, making
Photo by Brenda Palmer
Guides from Rothrock Outfitters help shuttle kayaks to the entry point on the Juniata River for the third annual Juniata Clean Water Partnership’s Glow Float.
less push from the current, but exposing more rocks and low spots. As the paddlers maneuvered the 2.4 miles downstream to the Inn, the rocks became invisible. Light from glow sticks, giving each boat its own distinctive pattern of colors, became
the only way to know the location of other boats but did nothing to illuminate water hazards.
see
Kayaking, pg. 15