WHEREAS, The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) recently stopped all new Marcellus Shale drilling in the Northeastern Pennsylvania region until such time as appropriate environmental regulation is in place; and
WHEREAS, While natural gas is recognized as a cleaner-burning substitute for petroleum which if safely extracted could lessen our dependence on foreign sources of energy while meeting our pressing energy needs and could facilitate the transition from non-renewables towards more renewable sources of energy; and
WHEREAS, Every natural gas well project inherently has the potential to endanger water resources and pollute the environment, as the Marcellus well blowout in Clearfield County on June 3, 2010 illustrated; and
WHEREAS, It is currently unclear whether the Philadelphia Gas Works is already or will be purchasing gas extracted from Marcellus Shale drilling; and
WHEREAS, Natural gas extraction injects toxic water into the well to fracture the rock and poses a risk to our public health and the potability of our drinking water; and
WHEREAS, Extracting natural gas in Marcellus Shale could potentially benefit the Commonwealth economy if managed properly and safely, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby authorizes the Joint Committees Transportation and Public Utilities and the Environment to hold hearings on the economic and environmental impacts that hydraulic drilling of Marcellus Shale will have on Philadelphia and the surrounding region.
End