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Politics : President Barack Obama -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: stockman_scott who wrote (78513)	6/19/2010 10:49:39 AM
From: cirrus	Respond to of 149317

Ouch! The political climate of opposition and obstructionalism has been around a lot longer than we thought. A national energy policy? Fool us eight times…Once again, Jon Stewart, in looking for humor uncovers a painful truth:

To: stockman_scott who wrote (78513)	6/19/2010 10:59:18 AM
From: cirrus	Respond to of 149317

One would think reasonable environmental regulations covering the new Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale gas fields would be a slam dunk, right? LOL! Can you believe anyone in their right mind would oppose this legislation? Excerpts: “Drilling wastewater is incredibly nasty wastewater,” state Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger said... “If we allow this into our rivers and streams, all the businesses in Pennsylvania will suffer ... all those who drink water in Pennsylvania are going to be angry and they would have every reason to be, ”’ The rule would put pressure on drillers to reuse the wastewater or find alternative methods to treat and dispose of the brine, rather than bringing more truckloads of it to sewage treatment plants that discharge into waterways where millions get drinking water. Conventional sewage treatment plants and drinking water treatment plants are not equipped to remove the sulfates and chlorides in the brine enough to comply with the rule. In addition, the chlorides can compromise the ability of bacteria in sewage treatment plants to break down nitrogen, which can be toxic to fish, environmental officials say. Currently, a portion of the massive amounts of brine being generated by well drilling is entering the state’s waterways through sewage treatment plants, and that flow would be unaffected by the rule. Water utilities, environmental advocates and outdoor recreation groups lined up behind it. The drilling industry, as well as a range of business groups and owners, opposes the rule, calling it costly, confusing, arbitrary and rushed during more than three hours of testimony before the regulatory review commission. The rule is designed to take effect Jan. 1. However, the Republican-controlled Senate, a key counterweight to Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, could delay that if it votes to oppose the rule. timesleader.com