Corbett Slashes Funding for Scientific Studies of Fracking

[JPZenger]

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/harrisburg_politics/Corbett-slashes-funding-for-conservation-research.html

Excerpt:

"Questions about the impact of natural gas drilling on the environment echo from one side of Pennsylvania to the other and beyond. But Gov. Corbett's administration quietly cut funding by 70 percent for scientific research that might answer those questions, according to a new report by StateImpact Pennsylvania, a project funded by NPR and local radio affiliates.

Funding for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources wildlife research program, which looks gas drilling's effects on wildlife and climate, was reduced (from $780,000 to $251,683) as a result of declining revenues, the administration said in the report, which was written by public radio reporter Scott Detrow.

Even programs that had been recommended for approval, like those looking at the impact of drilling on plant life and migratory birds and the role drilling activity may play in climate change were scrapped. There are charges from both sides that the climate change projects' inclusion and removal was political. Now some critics say the move flies in the face of Corbett's own statements that drilling in the Marcellus Shale would be driven by scientific research."

[badhair77]

1. as I read this I could only think of one thing in reference to Corbett

we're doomed - he has contributed nothing to the common good of the commonwealth and its citizens

[PA Democrat]

2. I know. He's taken the "common" out of commonwealth.

Every single one of his actions in government have been for the benefit of the very few and to the great detriment of the majority of Pennsylvanians.

[Lugnut]

5. And we have no recourse.

It's beyond unfortunate that we have no means by which we can stop him from doing more damage.

[saras]

3. No tests, no fracking. What's so hard to understand about that?

[Curmudgeoness]

4. Apparently, scientific research

is getting in the way of decisions by the drillers. Really, since all we ever hear now is "there is no EVIDENCE that fracking caused" whatever problems are in discussion, it could not be a good thing for them to get evidence. So, no research means no evidence...and the lies can continue.

This administration will go down in PA history as one of the most destructive we have seen to date.

[HopeHoops]

6. Once again proving that he was bought and paid for.