Grandparents ‘Rock To Block’ Fracking Near School
By Hannah Gerbe and Dianne Arnold for Protect Our Children. Middlesex Township, Butler, PA – A group of grandparents and seniors will “rock to block” unconventional natural gas drilling (fracking) near the Mars Area School District on Monday, December 21 at 11:00 AM. Rex Energy is currently drilling unconventional horizontal hydraulic fracturing gas wells (“fracking”) on the Geyer well pad. The well pad will contain a controversial cluster of wells located about a half mile away from 3,200 students at the Mars Area School District campus. Gas wells and related infrastructure such as processing plants, compressor stations and pipelines emit harmful air pollution, and have the potential to cause water pollution and safety risks. Children are especially vulnerable to environmental hazards. There is also a real safety risk due to accidental explosions and fires.