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Protect Honesdale PA from adverse effects of shale gas drilling!
  1. Signatures
    929 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. Honesdale Borough Council
  2. Created By
    Jane Prettyman
    Philadelphia, PA
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Honesdale PA is a small town in northeast PA largely unprepared for effects of shale gas drilling, especially the expected frack truck traffic and accumulation of diesel exhaust fumes in Honesdale valley. We call for preparation and planning to protect Honesdale in several areas including zoning before drilling starts in late Summer 2011. We urge our local authorities to be pro-active to get ahead of the curve. See our website: "Honesdale Concerned Citizens" (http://HonesdaleCC.blogspot.com).

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Get Honesdale PA ready for effects of shale gas drilling!

Greetings,

This petition urges the Borough Planning Commission (before drilling begins in late Summer 2011) to protect Honesdale from effects of shale gas drilling, an industrial process dangerous to environment and human health that will bring massive frack truck traffic through our small town, a classic traffic bottleneck. Air pollution will likely increase over time due to accumulation of diesel truck exhaust fumes in the bowl-shaped valley of Honesdale and over time it is probable that health effects will become noticeable. Frack truck traffic will distress the quiet historic setting of Church Street. Frack trucks will ruin the ambience of the Main Street shopping district and the charm of Honesdale's sidewalk cafes. Can an alternate truck route be found (or built)?

Looking at areas of extensive gas fracking and production in counties of west of Honesdale in PA as well as western and southern US, we can see the future coming toward us. Frack drilling could ruin our drinking water in the area -- should we pro-actively pre-test Honesdale water sources and periodically monitor water quality? With influx of out-of-state workers we anticipate increased crime and increased rents. Zoning review is needed to assure there are restrictions on siting of well pads, pipelines, compressor stations, etc, and setbacks from schools, hospitals, churches, and other vital and historic community structures as well as rivers,streams and lakes to protect the interests of the town consistent with state law. We want to see details of a road use plan to deal with road damage caused by drilling-related truck traffic.

We who sign this petition urge the Borough Council to task the Planning Commission to plan for these and other eventualities in Honesdale associated with this industrial onslaught.

Visit our website: "Honesdale Concerned Citizens" (http://HonesdaleCC.blogspot.com).

UPDATE: Our proposal has gotten to second base! On 1-10-11 the Borough Council sent our questions to the Planning Commission for further investigation, chiefly on zoning.

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