Letter to the editor: Fracking dangers in Plum

I am a Longwood at Oakmont resident deeply concerned about fracking operations in Plum since moving here with my husband in 2019. That year I learned about the serious threats caused by the fracking process to the public health and to the environment of this senior citizen community. The Longwood Environmental Concerns Committee sponsored a speaker panel about health risks related to fracking, which led to 150 residents signing petitions opposed to fracking that were delivered to the Plum Borough Council.

Now there is a new threat to our safety. The Penneco Co. shale gas fracking waste disposal injection well is expected to start operation this March in Plum. We encourage Gov. Tom Wolf to review the letter co-signed by similarly alarmed and opposed Plum citizens and 45 environmental organizations seeking to revoke the permits given to Penneco by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency (“Environmental groups call on Gov. Tom Wolf to stop Plum oil and gas disposal well,” Jan. 14, TribLIVE).

If Wolf is unable to legally revoke the permits, we hope and pray the Pennsylvania Legislature will revoke the permits and thereby protect the public health.

Betty Evans

Plum