Bipartisan Marcellus Shale Caucus Formed

Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

Aiming to educate colleagues and constituents, Rep. Mark Critz, D-Johnstown, is forming a special caucus on the Marcellus Shale natural gas play.

Joined by co-chair Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., Mr. Critz sent a letter last month to colleagues in Pennsylvania and nearby states that sit atop the Marcellus formation asking them to participate. The duo conceived the idea during a retreat for new members of Congress in January.

"We want to bring industry in and we want to bring in folks who are on the other side of the equation and get the full realm of the discussion going," Mr. Critz said. "Our goal mainly is to dispel any of the myths or untruths that are being talked about."

The "myths or untruths" mostly center on environmental concerns, Mr. Critz said, citing a recent New York Times article on potential radioactive contamination of Pennsylvania rivers that prompted a pushback from the state Department of Environmental Protection, which said its tests showed acceptable radiation levels.

Energy In Depth more details:

Last Thursday evening – with tens of Americans tuned into C-Span – the newly formed bipartisan Marcellus Shale Caucus, co-chaired by Congressmen Mark Critz (D-PA) and Tom Reed (R-NY), took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to highlight the economic, energy, environmental and national security benefits associated with the responsible development of clean-burning, American natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation.

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