Editor, the Record:

A recent editorial (“Getting more facts on gas drilling will benefit the public,” May 18), appropriately highlights the findings of a new University at Buffalo study focused on Pennsylvania’s strengthened natural gas regulatory framework. These forward-leaning regulations and laws continue to help further minimize the impact of responsible Marcellus Shale development. Importantly, this new analysis makes clear that our industry is trending in the right direction and that state environmental regulators are aggressively enforcing the laws on the books. Yet despite this positive progress, our industry remains committed to continuous improvements aimed at heightening environmental protections even further. The study is a proof point of that shared goal.

The editorial also cites efforts under way by Geisinger Health System to evaluate whether any potential health impacts from natural gas development exist, with a focus on patients with histories of asthma and other respiratory-related symptoms.

Your readers should be reminded that responsible American natural gas development — and the expanded use of this abundant, clean-burning resource — continues to provide enormous and undeniable health-related benefits for all Americans. In fact, according to the U.S. Energy Department, natural gas is an “inherently clean-burning fuel” and its expanded use in transportation fuels, for example, “improves public health and the environment.”

The cleanest burning fossil fuel, natural gas from the Marcellus Shale is not only generating economic and energy security benefits, but it’s also putting our nation a path toward a more sustainable future as it relates to environmental and public health.

KATHRYN KLABER
President, Marcellus Shale Coalition
Canonsburg, Pa.

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