The facts speak for themselves regarding DEP

After having read "Toxins Tied to Fish Kill May Have Hitchhiked" and "What Can Be Done With Wastewater?" (Oct. 4), I was left in a state of disbelief. To clarify my uneasy feeling, I summarized the facts in the articles to better understand the reality of "hydraulic fracturing" gas drilling in Pennsylvania and the Department of Environmental Protection's handling of its nascent boom. Here is what I came up with:

The Pennsylvania DEP issued 450 well permits in 2008, with about 700 more added in 2009. As it stands now, the "frac" gas drilling industry in Pennsylvania disgorges 9 million gallons or wastewater per day and that number will rise to 19 million gallons (29 Olympic swimming pools worth) per day in 2011. That wastewater contains carcinogenic cadmium and benzene. Worse, it contains "total dissolved solids" (TDS), which foul waterways and destroy aquatic ecosystems, resulting in mass fish kills. It is so foul steel mills and power plants complain because the intake water containing these substances is destroying their equipment. It is released into a myriad of waterways, including the Monongahela River, the source of drinking water for 350,000 people.

It is so toxic that it is trucked to waterways all around the state for discharge in an attempt to prevent concentrations of the poison in any specific area. It is taken to municipal sewage treatment facilities, which have no capability to remove the TDS or any other chemicals contained in the waste. Those who complain about the state of their drinking water are told to drink bottled water. At the same time, many DEP regulators are leaving to work for the drilling companies.

No angry rant or diatribe I could insert here could compare to the summation of facts above. I would, however, like to suggest a renaming of the DEP -- Department of Environmental Prostitution.

CHRISTIAN BROWN
Monroeville

Public guardians

In the Post-Gazette in the last week or so, I've read about deadly E. coli contamination in our food supply, mine runoff and gas drilling toxins in our local waters causing massive fish kills and undrinkable tap water, increasing rates of asthma and other lung diseases in Allegheny County from pollution, mercury poisoning from coal-fired plants fouling our fish dinners and air, and the threat of "hell with the lid off" now apropos to describing the entire planet overheating from the effects of global warming.

At what point will my fellow Americans realize that the "threat" of government interference in our lives pales in comparison to not enough government protection and crippled, underfunded regulatory agencies? The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Consumer Product Safety Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service among others should be protecting U.S. citizens, but are only as effective as their ability to monitor and enforce.

When we allow our elected officials to bend to the pressure of big business and their lobbying efforts and cut funding or usurp the enforcement powers of these agencies, we are giving our permission to the fox to guard the henhouse.

Be smart! Encourage your lawmakers to make policy based on the recommendations of an impartial scientific community to strengthen these agencies and give them the tools they need to keep us safe.

CYNTHIA TILSON
Shadyside

Indefensible act

Finally, an article (Stephen Metcalf, "The Polanski Petition," Oct. 5 Perspectives) that exposes the sheer inanity at the heart of any defense of Roman Polanski. "Artistic freedom" -- hardly! Let's be clear here, Roman Polanski raped a 13-year-old girl. There can never be any defense for that.

ELIZABETH KAIRYS
McCandless

Baffling resistance

As a newly arrived citizen in the United States, I would like to express my support for health-care reform in this country.

In my home country (Australia), we have a system of universal health-care insurance called Medicare. It is the single most popular political policy in Australia and has been so for decades. It is supported by citizens on both sides of the political spectrum, both rich and poor. Why? Not because of ideological or emotional reasons, but pure pragmatics.

Australians enjoy a lower average rate of taxation and a higher level of access to health-care services than Americans. A basic understanding of health economics and an appreciation of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development health statistics also demonstrate this to be the case.

There is much to love and admire about the United States, which is why I am here. But health care is not one of them. Many Australians, and Europeans who have for decades provided forms of universal health care for their citizens, funded through a progressive taxation regime, find the current U.S. resistance to health-care reform baffling. Reform of the system is so obviously in the health and economic interest of the majority of citizens.

NICOLE SKELTYS
Lawrenceville

Not really 'ours'

When the Rivers Casino was promoting itself to the Pittsburgh community, its message stated: "Pittsburgh, it's your casino." I work as a social worker in a Pittsburgh nursing home and our activities director was planning an outing to the Rivers Casino -- our casino -- for a few of our residents.

In calling "our" casino to make arrangements, the planner to whom she spoke was resistant and less than accommodating. The casino representative wanted us to rearrange our schedule to the casino's convenience and not that of the paying Pittsburgh customers. It was so difficult that the activity has been canceled, much to the disappointment of our residents at the nursing home.

We expected a more welcoming and enthusiastic response from "our" casino. Perhaps our casino is at The Meadows.

JAMES STANTON
Brighton Heights

About transit

Port Authority spokesman Jim Ritchie is the one supplying misinformation ("Bus Drivers Slammed Over 'Scare Tactics,' " Oct. 8). Some routes will have increased trips, but at what cost? Our express routes are being slashed; the 13F and 13G will be cut and not due to a lack of ridership. They hold their own. The Port Authority has ruled that those riders have cars and can "drive themselves."

I thought our goal was to promote mass transit in order to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and reduce traffic congestion. Politicians refuse to right the system because the Port Authority has employed their family and friends. Nice abuse of power, don't you think?

JIM KUNKEL
McCandless

Conservatives have had it with being labeled as bigots

In response to the letter from Michael Pastorkovich, "Today's Conservatives Could Use Some Class" (Sept. 27):

If one more person insinuates that I am a bigot because I disagree with something my president is proposing I am going to scream! How dare you. Am I not allowed to voice my opinion because I am not a Democrat without being vilified by you and those of the same ilk?

Contrary to what you think, sir, I really like President Obama. I think he is a dedicated man who believes in what he is doing and is sincere and honest. I think he has a great sense of humor and seems to be a great dad and husband. I just don't agree with him on every issue.

Now I have to just shut up and not express my opinion because I don't want to come across as a bigot? What kind of scare tactic is that? This country is founded on the premise of the voice of the people, all the people. I will support my president's decisions when I feel they are good for the country and I will speak my views when I disagree, and it has nothing to do with the color of his skin, I can promise you that.

So, please just allow me to be the loyal American that I am. Quit spewing all that stuff about bigotry. It is incorrect and insulting, and I for one am tired of hearing it.

BARBARA WHITE
Westmoreland City

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