Pittsburgh City Council President Refers to Marcellus Shale Drillers as “Dogs” – Threatens Upriver Municipalities with “Toxic Trespass”
Pittsburgh City Councilman and Council President Doug Shields (Democrat-District 5) was the driving force behind legislation passed late last year that banned drilling for Marcellus Shale gas inside city limits. Energy companies hold leases on 362 acres, or 1 percent, of land in the city proper. Shields worked with the environmentalist and anti-drilling law firm Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund to craft that legislation.
It seems that recent stories from The New York Times about potential wastewater contamination are an opportunity too good to “waste” for Councilman Shields.
Mr. Shields raised the possibility of introducing a bill that would hold upriver municipalities responsible for “toxic trespass” if they let drilling-polluted water flow into the city. He said such a law is in line with other anti-pollution measures already on the books.
“You’re not allowed to dump anything over the hill. You have to clean up after your dog,” he said.*
Nice language from someone who just announced his candidacy for Magisterial District Judge in the Squirrel Hill/Shadyside district.
*Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Mar 3) – Councilman calls for testing of water supply
i believe the term is “metaphor,” as in, when you make a mess, clean up after yourself, do not leave it for others to deal with. kinda like, do your dirty dishes, do not leave it for your roomate to clean up. hard to believe what he was saying referred to drillers as “dogs,” but, you may have a point. let’s say they are dogs, and need to be treated as such. that would imply they need to be on a tight leash, and their owners should always leave home with a pooper scooper and disposal bag so as not to make stinky and messy the local neighborhood. perhaps your dog reference is appropriate.