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Fracking ban impact on Allegheny County parks

Fracking ban impact on Allegheny County parks
COUNTY PARKS, LIKE THIS ONE. THE ALLEGHENY COUNCILMAN AT LARGE SAYS THAT THE BILL DOESN’T MAKE AN IMPACT IN THEIR ARE NO FUTURE FRACKING PROJECTS PLANNED. COUNCILMEMBER OLIVIA BENNETT SAYS SHE’S EXCITED FOR THE DECISION SHE’S BEEN PUSHING. >> HOW WILL THIS IMPACT COUNTY PARKS? >> BY MAKING THEM SAFE. >> SHE SAYS THE BILL PROHIBITS FUTURE FRACKING AND HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES THAT THE PART AND THAT THE PROJECT THAT DEAR LAKES PARK CAN CONTINUE BUT THAT WORK CANNOT BE EXPANDED. THE PRESIDENT OF THE MARCELLUS SHALE COALITION IS DISAPPOINTED IN THE MOVE. >> WE THINK WE CAN HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ADVANCEMENT THROUGH THE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL GAS AND WE ARE SEARED -- SEEING THAT TAKE PLACE AND YOUR LAKES. >> THEY VOTED TO KEEP TOXIC FRACKING OUT OF THE PARKS. THAT WILL HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE OUTDOOR SPACES ARE SAFE FOR KAYAKING, BIKING, HIKING AND OTHER ENJOYMENT FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME. >> HE MAKES A POINT TO SEND THE BILL IS NOT MEANT TO RESTRICT ALL COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES LIKE THOSE WRIST -- CONNECTED TO RECREATION. DIMARCO SAYS HE’S WORRIED THAT THE LANGUAGE IN THE BILL IS TOO VAGUE. >> WE BELIEVE IT WAS OVERLY BROAD. THEY DON’T SPECIFY WHEN THEY SAY COMMERCIAL REASONS, YOU KNOW? AND IT CAN’T BE, IT CAN BE ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN FRACKING, OK? LIKE THE KAYAK RENTALS, THE RESTAURANT IN NORTH ARC, SKIING OPERATORS OUT OF BOYCE PARK. >> WE ARE NOT SAYING RESTRICT ALL BUSINESS. IF THE BUSINESS IS CONNECTED TO RECREATION WE WILL OF WAS MAKE SURE THAT THE BUSINESS IS ABLE TO STILL REMAIN THERE. CHANDI: FITZGERALD WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMMENT ON THE OVERRIDE HE REFERR
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Fracking ban impact on Allegheny County parks
Allegheny County Councilman At-Large Sam DeMarco said a bill that bans fracking at county parks doesn't make an impact since there are no future fracking projects planned, but council member Olivia Bennett said she's excited for the decision she's been pushing.Fracking ban in county parks: Watch the report above."This will impact county parks by making them safe," Bennett said Wednesday.She said the bill prohibits future fracking and heavy industrial activities at the parks.Bennett said the project involving fracking at Deer Lakes Park can continue, but work cannot be expanded.Marcellus Shale Coalition President David Callahan said he is disappointed in the move."We think we can have both economic development and environmental protection, if not environmental advancement, through the safe and responsible development of natural gas, and we are seeing that take place in Deer Lakes Park," Callahan said.Zachary Barber, with groups like Penn Environment, said the bill is a win."They voted to keep toxic fracking out of our parks, like North Park or Harrison Hills, which will help make sure that these outdoor spaces are safe for kayaking, biking, hiking and other enjoyment in generations to come," Barber said.Bennett makes a point to say the bill is not meant to restrict all commercial businesses, such as those connected to recreation. She gives the example of kayak rentals.DeMarco said he's worried the language in the bill is too vague."We believe it was overly broad," he said. "They don't specify, when they say commercial leases, that it can't be anything else other than fracking. So the concern is kayak rentals, the restaurant in North Park, the ski operators in Boyce Park."Bennett said, "We're not saying that we are restricting all business. The businesses connected to recreation, of course we will make sure that that business is able to still remain there."County Executive Rich Fitzgerald wasn't available to comment on the council's vote to override his veto. His office referred Pittsburgh's Action News 4 to his statement last week about the reasons why he chose to veto.

Allegheny County Councilman At-Large Sam DeMarco said a bill that bans fracking at county parks doesn't make an impact since there are no future fracking projects planned, but council member Olivia Bennett said she's excited for the decision she's been pushing.

Fracking ban in county parks: Watch the report above.

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"This will impact county parks by making them safe," Bennett said Wednesday.

She said the bill prohibits future fracking and heavy industrial activities at the parks.

Bennett said the project involving fracking at Deer Lakes Park can continue, but work cannot be expanded.

Marcellus Shale Coalition President David Callahan said he is disappointed in the move.

"We think we can have both economic development and environmental protection, if not environmental advancement, through the safe and responsible development of natural gas, and we are seeing that take place in Deer Lakes Park," Callahan said.

Zachary Barber, with groups like Penn Environment, said the bill is a win.

"They voted to keep toxic fracking out of our parks, like North Park or Harrison Hills, which will help make sure that these outdoor spaces are safe for kayaking, biking, hiking and other enjoyment in generations to come," Barber said.

Bennett makes a point to say the bill is not meant to restrict all commercial businesses, such as those connected to recreation. She gives the example of kayak rentals.

DeMarco said he's worried the language in the bill is too vague.

"We believe it was overly broad," he said. "They don't specify, when they say commercial leases, that it can't be anything else other than fracking. So the concern is kayak rentals, the restaurant in North Park, the ski operators in Boyce Park."

Bennett said, "We're not saying that we are restricting all business. The businesses connected to recreation, of course we will make sure that that business is able to still remain there."

County Executive Rich Fitzgerald wasn't available to comment on the council's vote to override his veto. His office referred Pittsburgh's Action News 4 to his statement last week about the reasons why he chose to veto.