Marcellus Shale Coalition Condemns Disregard for Pennsylvania Environmental Laws

Calls for Strong Action Against Violators

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Feb 17, 2010, 04:25 ET

CANONSBURG, Pa., Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Marcellus Shale Coalition President and Executive Director Kathryn Klaber today issued the following statement regarding the guilty pleas of two individuals who illegally poured 200,000 gallons of brine fluid from a shallow well drilling operation down an abandoned well in McKean County:

"On behalf of the members of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, we are appalled by the actions of these two people and their disregard for Pennsylvania's environmental laws. Companies engaged in oil and natural gas development activity in Pennsylvania must meet the regulatory requirements of the Commonwealth, which extends to the businesses that support those operators in planning, drilling and completing wells.

"The MSC applauds the government agencies involved in the investigation of this crime and the efforts to bring these two people to justice, and trust they will be suitably punished for their disregard of Pennsylvania's environmental laws."

"The members of the Marcellus Shale Coalition are committed to using the best management practices in the industry to comply with all state regulations to protect the environment and the people of Pennsylvania."

SOURCE Marcellus Shale Coalition