Fracking is the most destructive mining process ever invented by the petroleum industry. A mixture of sand, millions of gallons of precious water, and 600 chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic, are forced thousands of feet underground using extremely high pressure. The shale is broken, and the natural gas and crude are forced to the surface.

The underground water supply is contaminated, as well as the soil. This process is also suspected of causing earthquakes in areas which previously did not experience seismic activity.

A new complaint has been filed against a large oil company with a track record of conducting a harmful business. In Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, the Holleran family is protesting the loss of hundreds of trees; these are not just any tree, they are maple trees, which are necessary to maintain their family business of manufacturing maple syrup.

Removing the trees is necessary to construct a 25 mile, 120-foot wide passageway for a pipeline. The federal government is allowing the action under ‘eminent domain.’ The Holleran family camped out among the trees, and was facing contempt of court charges.

This pipeline crosses state lines. Although Pennsylvania approved its construction, New York has yet to make a decision.

Lawyer Mike Ewall of Energy Justice Network said, “Constitution Pipeline Company is threatening this family’s livelihood for a pipeline that may never be built. They still don’t have FERC’s permission to construct, yet they bully and intimidate landowners while offering paltry compensation for taking their land.”

On February 10, the protestors blocked the beginning of tree cutting and incurred the contempt charges. The charges were dropped when state trooper Monty Morgan said that he could not identify any of the protestors.

A federal judge has ordered the arrest of anyone who attempts to block future tree cutting.

200 trees are scheduled to be removed, which is 80 percent of the family’s business. Speaking for the family, Megan Holleran released the following statement: “We know they’re allowed to cut down the trees, but we’re still hoping they may not. My family’s not going to do anything to violate the court order.”

The question is; how much compensation will the family receive from the oil companies for the loss of a family business? Will projections for the future be fair and reimburse the family for the forfeiture of future revenue?

The pipeline is a partnership of $1 billion Texas company Cabot Oil; $12 billion Oklahoma company Williams; Piedmont Natural Gas, also from Texas; and the public utility holding company WGL serving the Washington DC area.

This is another example of how big business has purchased our nation through the influence of lobbyists. It is also more proof of how corrupt our government at all levels has become in every state in the union.

The oil companies are complaining about the price of oil, and subsequent loss of jobs because of the oil glut. Apparently that doesn’t keep them from drilling for more.

Hypocrisy; thy name is big business. Shame on the destruction of a family’s livelihood; once more our nation proves that it values profit over people.

I have a slogan: “Maple Syrup tastes better than oil, and is not harmful to humans.”

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Source

Photo Courtesy of CREDO: Cuomo Policy Summit 8/22/2012

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