Many Butler school children are being exposed to harmful air emissions on a daily basis from unconventional gas drilling operations constructed in proximity to schools. Penn Environment published a report that cited research regarding increased health risks to expectant mothers and children who live near drilling operations. Other research shows that people who live around gas wells have a higher rate of hospitalization.

Are we as a community willing to remain silent and continue to allow drilling operations too close to schools and homes where children learn and play? Are we willing to allow the health and safety of our children to be compromised? Are you willing find out how your children are being affected?

Parents, grandparents and others living near fracking sites, compressor stations or gas processing plants will get valuable information about how to protect their loved ones at a free public meeting, “Protecting Your Family’s Health When Fracking Is Your Neighbor” from 7 to 9 p.m. May 4 at Butler Area Senior High School Library, 120 Campus Lane.

The program is being presented by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project, which has worked closely over the past seven years with communities that have been impacted by unconventional gas drilling in Southwestern Pennsylvania.