Pittsburgh moves ahead with controversial gas drilling ban
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Pittsburgh City Council gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a ban on natural gas drilling in the city, with members saying they're ready to defend it in a possible legal fight with Marcellus Shale producers.
Citing concerns about drilling explosions and pollution, council voted 8-0 for a controversial bill that Councilman Doug Shields introduced in August. Supporters predicted that council's action will encourage other communities to defy the gas industry.
"I can't vote any other way," council President Darlene Harris said.
The Marcellus Shale Coalition, a Cecil-based trade group that previously predicted the city would have a difficult time preventing property owners from developing their mineral rights, expressed disappointment.
"Councilman Shields' resolution -- with questionable legal authority -- and his desire to deny private property owners their fundamental rights unfortunately discount the overwhelmingly positive and profound economic impact that responsible clean-burning shale gas development continues to have for our region and its work force," the coalition said in a statement.
Councilman Ricky Burgess was not in council chambers when the vote was taken and had not registered a vote by Tuesday afternoon. All other members voted for the ban.
The preliminary vote, to be followed by a final vote Tuesday, was welcomed by Marcellus Shale opponents.
"It's like a beacon," Lawrenceville resident Gloria Forouzan said, contending that other communities will follow Pittsburgh's lead. "I think it's building a lot of momentum."
Ben Price, who helped craft Mr. Shields' legislation as projects director for the Franklin County-based Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, said that within hours of the vote he'd spoken with gas opponents in three other municipalities interested in enacting their own bans.
First Published November 10, 2010 12:00 am
