+ Diaries Of The Diabolical

This editorial was first published in the Republican Herald on October 19, 2022 -- Shell Pipeline Co. and a pipeline contractor, Minnesota Limited, have agreed to pay a $670,000 fine for pollution they generated during the construction of the Falcon Pipeline in Western Pennsylvania. The state Department of Environmental Protection conducted 67 inspections of the pipeline when it was under construction and found that sediment and drilling fluids had leaked into the Ambridge Reservoir, Raccoon Creek, the Ohio River and more than a dozen smaller streams. Although the case indicates vigilance by the DEP, it says the opposite about the state Legislature. The Falcon pipeline connects gas processing plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania with the massive Shell petrochemical refinery in Beaver County.  The plants separate ethane from other gases and liquids extracted from the Marcellus Shale, and ships the ethane to the petrochemical refinery. The refinery converts the ethane into plastic pellets. Re

Are You Telling Your Story? Senate returns to session October 19, 24, 25, 26, November 15 [Adjourn for year]      -- Committee Schedule House returns to session October 24, 25, 26, November 14, 15, 16 [Adjourn for year]      -- Committee Schedule TODAY’s Calendar Of Events   -- Federal Office Of Surface Mining Recognizes DEP Anthracite Outdoor Adventure - Bear Valley Mine Reclamation Project In Northumberland County With National Award  [PaEN] -- National Wildlife Federal Blog: Mine-Scarred Land And Orange Rivers - A Story Of Land Degradation And Reclamation In Pennsylvania -- Nominations Now Being Accepted For 2023 Governor’s Award For Environmental Excellence   [PaEN]   -- TribLive Editorial: State Fines Should Be Higher Than Tax Cuts To Penalize Environmental Leaks [PaEN]   -- Republican Herald Editorial: State Lawmakers Should Adopt Rules That Preclude State Taxpayers From Subsidizing Pollution From Oil & Gas Industry   [PaEN]   -- Republican Herald Editorial: Dangerous Cou