Green City Journal

originally published at ProPublica 5-26-09

Four years after Vice President Dick Cheney spearheaded a massive energy bill that exempted natural gas drilling from federal clean water laws, Congress is having second thoughts about the environmental dangers posed by the burgeoning industry.

With growing evidence that the drilling can damage water supplies, Democratic leaders in Congress are circulating legislation that would repeal the extraordinary exemption and for the first time require companies to disclose all chemicals used in the key drilling process, called hydraulic fracturing [1].

The proposed legislation has already stirred sharp debate.

The energy industry has launched a broad effort in Washington to fend off this proposed tightening of federal oversight, lobbying members of Congress and publishing studies that highlight what it says are the dangers of regulation. In mid-May, the industry released a detailed report asserting that the changes in current law would cost jobs and slash tax revenues. A key advocate of past efforts to regulate gas drilling, Rep. John Salazar [2] (D-CO), has declined to support the legislation, expressing concern about how it would affect the energy companies.

However, with a strengthened Democratic majority in Congress and the party's capture of the White House in last year's election, the fracturing legislation is viewed as having its best chance at passage in years. Its House sponsor, Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) [3], aims to attach a bill to a larger piece of legislation with broad support -- possibly a bill on climate change or a new energy policy measure – where it would be shielded from industry resistance. On the Senate side, according to congressional staff close to the effort, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) [4] has a companion bill ready to follow.

In January my friend Mimi Copp along with 11 people of faith went to Colosimo's Gun Center on Spring Garden Street (http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/38686362.html ) to ask the owner to sign a Code of Conduct for Responsible Gun Dealers (this is the same agreement that Walmart signed, the biggest gun dealer in the country). They went following weeks of discussion between the gun shop and a delegation of local religious leaders. The 12 people remained at the shop waiting for the owners agreement. He wouldn't sign. They were arrested for misdemeanor trespass, among other things. They spent the night in jail.

Many crime guns used in this city have been traced to straw buyers who bought the guns at Colosimo's gun shop.

Their trial is this Tuesday, May 26th. There is a rally tomorrow at 12:30PM in Dilworth Plaza at the NW corner of City Hall to support those on trial and to raise our voices against gun violence. Maybe we will see you there.

5-26-09 The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote an editorial in support of this group and their goal .