Environmentalists differ in mindset, willingness to work with frackers

On the battleground against fracking, critics who say they fight for the environment often are branded broadly.

Cast against an industry that says it can bring energy independence to the country and an economic boost to Pennsylvania, environmental groups in the state have made shale gas drilling a cornerstone issue — but disagree on how to address it.

Some say collaboration and better regulation are key. Others will accept nothing less than a moratorium or outright ban on hydraulic fracturing.

“The environmental conservation community is not a monolith, and neither is the industry,” said Davitt Woodwell, CEO of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, which says it seeks to work with drillers, rather than demonize them.

The Downtown-based nonprofit, which took in $2.1 million in grants and contributions last year, started addressing shale drilling in 2009 with a goal of updating state regulations to fit fracking after decades of conventional oil and gas drilling.

“We see enough benefit from it to say, ‘Let's make sure it's done correctly,' ” Woodwell said.

Yet many environmentalists diverge over the notion of what is “correct” when it comes to shale gas drilling — and whether anything correct exists.

Pushing prohibition

Hard-line critics argue there is no way to make drilling safe. They point to successful campaigns to prevent drilling in Pittsburgh and other municipalities, in the Delaware River Watershed, and in Maryland and New York.

Marcellus Protest, a coalition of anti-fracking groups, formed in 2009 to ban drilling in Pittsburgh's city limits.

“We've just been cleaning up from the last industrial movement here,” said Briget Shields, who heads the coalition.

Pittsburgh City Council voted in 2010 to enact a moratorium, citing potential public harm from drilling.

“The City Council recognizes that environmental and economic sustainability cannot be achieved if the rights of municipal majorities are routinely overridden by corporate minorities claiming certain legal powers,” says the ordinance.

Other municipalities with ordinances prohibiting drilling include Baldwin and Baldwin Borough, Forest Hills, West Homestead, Wilkinsburg and State College.

Such moratoriums show that environmental groups don't need to work with the industry to gain what they want, Shields said.

Since Pittsburgh's vote, the coalition has organized 140 grassroots groups across the state. They reach out to people living near well sites who claim drillers polluted their air or water.

“Sitting at a table and trying to reason with (drilling companies) is wasting our time,” Shields said. “The only solution is to stop it.”

Clashing mindsets

Fracking critics and cheerleaders do sit down together at the nonprofit Center for Sustainable Shale Development.

The Downtown Pittsburgh group, formed last year, aims to set volunteer standards for drillers that are mutually appealing to environmental and industry interests. Its nine members include the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, the Environmental Defense Fund, and Chevron, Consol Energy, Shell and EQT.

But not everyone buys in.

“It's a worthwhile challenge,” said Susan LeGros, the center's executive director. “We recognize some groups do not agree with the collaborative premise of the (Center) and their views are unlikely to be changed.”

Anti-fracking activists claim their protests and lobbying in Pennsylvania helped drive bans in neighboring states.

“It's because of Pennsylvania that Maryland and New York decided to stop it,” said Karen Feridun, who runs Berks Gas Truth, funded by member donations and run from her kitchen table in Berks County. “They came here, they saw what was going on.”

Since winning a moratorium on drilling in the Delaware River Watershed, the Delaware River Keeper Network continues to fight. It rejects industry collaboration and will not join the Center for Sustainable Shale Development, said Tracy Carluccio, deputy director of the network.

“It can't be made sustainable; it's an unsustainable energy course,” she said. “We are in a totally different frame of mind from that center.”

Promoting pragmatism

Schisms within the environmental movement mean little to the North Fayette-based Marcellus Shale Coalition, which represents most drillers in the state.

It largely opposes two key issues upon which environmental groups are most united: more state regulation, especially on methane leaks, and Gov. Tom Wolf's proposed 5 percent severance tax on natural gas extraction.

The industry lobbying group says members strive to minimize their impact on the environment.

“It's a false choice to suggest that we can either have a healthy environment or good jobs,” said Erica Clayton Wright, a spokeswoman for the group. “We know that we can, and must, achieve both.” Large conservation groups such as the Environmental Defense Fund, Sierra Club, Earthworks, Penn Environment, Clean Water Action and Penn Future have taken a pragmatic approach — as drilling continues, they push for effective regulations and try to work with the industry to protect the environment.

“Shale gas is here to stay in Pennsylvania,” said John Norbeck, Penn Future's executive director. “We want to help the industry, and quite often I'm sure they don't appreciate our help, (but) we want to help the industry do their job to protect the health and welfare of our citizens and the environment.”

Katelyn Ferral is a Trib Total Media staff writer. Reach her at 412-380-5627 or kferral@tribweb.com.