'Bulletins' warned of gas activism
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HARRISBURG - A public hearing on natural gas extraction, the release of a documentary about energy companies and a training session for environmental activists were among the events a state-paid terrorism research group warned about in "intelligence bulletins" sent to law enforcement officials and some Marcellus Shale gas drillers.
A total of 137 of the briefing bulletins were released Friday by Gov. Ed Rendell's office.
International Terrorism Research and Resources was hired by the state Office of Homeland Security to provide thrice weekly bulletins, which were transmitted by e-mail, about credible threats to critical infrastructure.
However, in a memo leaked to the news media this week, state Homeland Security Director James Powers Jr. made it sound as if the goal was to help gas companies learn about the activities of people who oppose drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale.
"We want to continue providing support to the Marcellus Shale Formation natural gas stakeholders while not feeding those groups fomenting dissent against these same companies," Mr. Powers wrote in the memo.
Mr. Powers declined repeated requests for comment.
Michael Perelman, co-director of ITRR, did not respond to a request for comment Friday but previously said his company provides guidance on "the potential for deadly actions" and on staffing requirements for crowd control."
A bulletin six days ago included an alert about a Pittsburgh City Council hearing on Marcellus Shale drilling, saying anti-drilling activists were expected to attend.
Another ITRR briefing warns of a training session in Ithaca, N.Y. for anti-drilling activists who have "expertise in planning and conducting demonstrations and campaigns that can close down a facility and embarrass a company," according to the bulletin.
ITRR also alerted law enforcement officers to "several peaceful, silent protests - in which activists hold hands briefly in public spaces" to raise awareness of environmental concerns over oil drilling. Locations included North Shore Riverfront Park in Pittsburgh and New Brighton in Beaver County.
In June, another bulletin warned that a group of environmentalists were analyze water samples in streams in Lackawanna County. "ITRR's analysts believe that the water sampling is being done out of concern of ecological damage as a result of drilling for natural gas," according to the bulletin. "While these individuals appear to be mainstream conservationists - and not radical activists - at least one of them is on record for criticizing 'fracking' in the Marcellus Shale and urging residents not to make deals with energy companies."
First Published September 17, 2010 11:23 pm
