When it comes to the public health implications of gas drilling, Pa. has its head in the shale

When it comes to the public health implications of gas drilling, Pa. has its head in the shale by Bernard D. Goldstein, January 5, 2014, The Patriot News PA
The movie “Jaws” includes a confrontation that is familiar to public health officials. The town’s mayor demands absolute proof of there’s a killer shark before he’s willing to close beaches just before a busy summer weekend. Our Commonwealth’s leaders have gone one step further with shale gas. They have resolutely prevented the Pennsylvania Department of Health from doing its job of gathering information to determine if there even is a health threat. … Being able to tell unwanted truths to those in power is central to protecting the public from health threats. Following his election with $1.3 million in support from the shale gas industry, Gov. Corbett appointed a Marcellus Shale Commission. Its 31 members included heads of eight state agencies, but no one from the state Department of Health or with any health background. In response to health concerns, the commission recommended that funds be given to the Department of Health for public health surveillance activities. However this was ignored.

The Department of Health is not among the 17 state agencies, subagencies and commissions that divide $200 million annually from Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale Impact Fee. The only legitimate rationale for excluding the Health Department would be certainty that there is no health impact from rapidly expanding shale gas drilling activities, a certainty that is not accepted by any authoritative health organization reviewing the issue. Nor was it accepted by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in its recent decision overturning crucial sections of Act 13 which governs shale drilling in Pennsylvania. … It is unacceptable that Pennsylvania’s nationally recognized leaders in the field of identifying environmental public health risks are not allowed to bring their expertise to bear on a prominent environmental issue in Pennsylvania. … Being able to tell unwanted truths to those in power is central to protecting the public from health threats.
…
Pennsylvanians who believe their health has been affected by shale gas activities cite lack of response to their complaints more frequently than they do physical stresses such as noise, odor and contaminated water. … It is instructive to compare Pennsylvania with New York, a state that also has significant Marcellus shale deposits. Governor Cuomo has delayed drilling until his state Department of Health has thoroughly reviewed the potential health impact of shale activities. … [Emphasis added]
Bernard D. Goldstein is the Emeritus Professor and Dean of the  University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.