Environmental Groups, Lawmaker Call for Marcellus Shale Drilling Permit Moratorium

A coalition of environmental and community groups, as well as state Sen. Jim Ferlo gathered in the state Capitol at noon Tuesday to call on state lawmakers to revoke Act 13—the state's new Marcellus Shale drilling law—and to support newly written legislation that would impose a statewide gas-drilling permit moratorium.

Ferlo is a Democrat serving parts of Allegheny, Armstrong and Westmoreland counties.

The other groups attending included the Sierra Club, Clean Water Action, Berks Gas Truth and Delaware Riverkeeper Network.

The moratorium would be in place while a study commission "determines the wide range of impacts caused by hydraulic fracturing," Ferlo's office indicated in a media advisory.

Those in attendance held signs reading, "Don't be frackin' crazy" and "Get the frack out of my water."

Organizers also unveiled a huge banner they called the "scroll of shame"—one that listed the names of legislators who voted for the Act 13 legislation, including state Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg.