Corbett slashes funding for gas drilling-related science research
Questions about the impact of natural gas drilling on the environment echo from one side of Pennsylvania to the other and beyond. But Gov. Corbett quietly cut funding by 70 percent for scientific research that might answer those questions, according to a new report by State Impact Pennsylvania, a project funded by NPR and local radio affiliates.
Corbett slashes funding for gas drilling-related science research
Questions about the impact of natural gas drilling on the environment echo from one side of Pennsylvania to the other and beyond.
But Gov. Corbett's administration quietly cut funding by 70 percent for scientific research that might answer those questions, according to a new report by StateImpact Pennsylvania, a project funded by NPR and local radio affiliates.
Funding for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources wildlife research program, which looks gas drilling's effects on wildlife and climate, was reduced (from $780,000 to $251,683) as a result of declining revenues, the administration said in the report, which was written by public radio reporter Scott Detrow.
In addition, the report said, much of the research was duplicative.
Even programs that had been recommended for approval, like those looking at the impact of drilling on plant life and migratory birds and the role drilling activity may play in climate change were scrapped.
There are charges from both sides that the climate change projects' inclusion and removal was political.
Now some critics say the move flies in the face of Corbett's own statements that drilling in the Marcellus Shale would be driven by scientific research.
Included on the State Impact website is a list of the proposed projects and those whose funding was eliminated.
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wow...the stones on that guy. its clearer by the minute who he really represents, and it is NOT the citizens of PA.— PelosiForPrez- I can live without a few plants and migratory birds but what research is being done showing the effects of drilling on the human population downstream of thier run offs.— Bruddah
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
It's easy to say gas has no impact when you defund any studies that could say otherwise. On a side note, how can we trust this administration to collect "fees" from gas wells in the state when it can't even count them?— meteo30- Corbett's parents should have made him read Dr Suess Lorax - to blinding allow his shale oil benefactors to go full steam ahead while not supporting an extract fee to be used for environmental cleanup, cutting funds for research into the effects it will time for a new book on what happened to our water> Where's PA's Lorax?— ElecFact
- Corbett bought and sold by natural gas drillers. One million dollars of campaign contributions buys alot of influence. Corbett a corporate sell out. The role of government is to responsabile regulate business.Corbett short changes the citizens of PA to do the job for the people not corporate America. Kill the agency that could harm the natural gas drillers. Great job Corbett.— Jeff C.
- All you commie-Nazi-liberals complaining about this. Who can really say that there is ANY gas there anyway. It is invisible so it cannot possible hurt us. We should trust our governor - he only has our good at heart.— JeffJenk
- JeffJenk come on up to Bradford County and drink some water or how about Dimock, Pa. Fracking has caused water contamination. Has nothing to do with be liberal.— Jeff C.
