Fracking Company Offers Pennsylvania Residents $50,000 In Hush Money If They Promise Not to Sue

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/fracking/fracking-company-offers-pennsylvania-residents-50000-hush-money-if-they-promise-not-sue




For the last eight years, Pennsylvania has been riding the natural gas boom, with companies drilling and fracking thousands of wells across the state. And in a little corner of Washington County, some 20 miles outside of Pittsburgh, EQT Corporation has been busy— drilling close to a dozen new wells on one site.

It didn't take long for the residents of Finleyville who lived near the fracking operations to complain—about the noise and air quality, and what they regarded as threats to their health and quality of life. Initially, EQT, one of the largest producers of natural gas in Pennsylvania, tried to allay concerns with promises of noise studies and offers of vouchers so residents could stay in hotels to avoid the noise and fumes.

But then, in what experts say was a rare tactic, the company got more aggressive: it offered all of the households along Cardox Road $50,000 in cash if they would agree to release the company from any legal liability, for current operations as well as those to be carried out in the future. It covered potential health problems and property damage, and gave the company blanket protection from any kind of claim over noise, dust, light, smoke, odors, fumes, soot, air pollution or vibrations.

The agreement also defined the company's operations as not only including drilling activity but the construction of pipelines, power lines, roads, tanks, ponds, pits, compressor stations, houses and buildings.

[hollysmom]

1. that hardly seems enough when your house value falls through the floor

not to mention the the cost of cancer and possibly other diseases.

[blkmusclmachine]

2. POISON.

[MadrasT]

3. Something is wrong with this picture.

We have a natural gas boom... yet our roads are crumbling, bridges are literally falling apart, schools are destitute, and the asshole frackers are offering "hush money" that is a joke. $50K isn't shit.

Signed,
Pissed in PA

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. If they are offering $50 thousand that means they are doing $50 million in damages

[gratuitous]

5. Oh you libruls!

Here you are, maligning EQT Corporation's deeply held, sincere religious belief in making as much money as they can while poisoning the landscape. Well, the Supreme Court will tell you lot what's what again and you'll pine for the days when you spat on EQT's generosity! You'll be sorry then, boy.

[sendero]

6. Maybe 5 million...

... and then they should talk.