According to the National Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania has a higher incidence of cancer than the rest of the United States, and Butler County has a higher incidence of cancer than the rest of Pennsylvania. So why do we allow fracking, which exposes us to known endocrine disruptors and carcinogens?

There is only one answer: money.

Money persuades us to welcome these carpetbaggers into our local landscape and into our most cherished institutions. We know better.

Polluting industries have a well-known record of exploiting natural resources and leaving poison in their wake. How do they get away with it? Easy. When health concerns are raised by local residents, the industry questions the data. It then calls for more studies, the real purpose of which is to buy more time so it can continue polluting. It’s called “spill, study and stall.” It has happened over and over. Look at Donora, Love Canal, Deepwater.

Please look at some independent studies on the health effects of fracking. Make sure they are not written by the professional liars hired by the industry. And keep in mind that due to industry lobbying and the Halliburton loophole, we are not even permitted to know all of the chemicals that are being used.