Range Resources Throws Poop

What would have probably disappeared from the headlines in another week or so, Range Resources ramps it up by throwing poop.   The decision to throw poop now has the attention of more people.    One problem with a poop throwing contest – everyone involved walks away with poop on their faces.

About the only thing surprising about Range Resources attack on PA. Representative Jesse White is it took them a few days.    Last week Range Resources canceled a public workshop because White planned on attending.

A correction is needed to the TribLive article: Pa. lawmaker, Range Resources differ on souring of ties.  The article states “Just last week, Range canceled a private meeting with Cecil officials when White said he would attend. “

If the TribLive reporters did a little Google searching instead of taking dictation, they would have found the meeting was NOT private – it was public.

Range bails out on Cecil meeting | Observer-Reporter | By Christie Campbell, Staff writer | November 9, 2012
A meeting designed to forge a positive, working relationship between Cecil Township and Range Resources was abruptly canceled Thursday because a local lawmaker posted the meeting notice on his Facebook page and announced his plans to attend.

State Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, who has been at odds with Range Resources for some time, posted information about the workshop meeting online, checking the option to invite others to attend.

But allowing public discussion was contrary to what representatives from Range Resources, who had requested the meeting, believed would be taking place at the 6 p.m. workshop.

In a letter to White, Range’s counsel, attorney David Poole, referred to an Oct. 26 email from township manager Don Gennuso that stated in a workshop setting the public is able to attend but does not get involved in the discussion. He went on to note that based on White’s Facebook posting, it appeared he was attempting “to derail the discussion” by inviting people who do not live in the township to come and speak.

What is even more disturbing is the assumption by Range Resources that the “public is able to attend but does not get involved in the discussion”.   In other words, the public is only allowed to sit there and swallow the poop.

Back to the article: Pa. lawmaker, Range Resources differ on souring of ties. 

Range says it wants to expose a lawmaker who tried to strong-arm the company and continues to challenge its Pennsylvania business dealings.

Let’s talk about “strong arming” a bit.

Range Resources, Mount Pleasant Township at odds over well sites | March 29, 2012  | By Don Hopey | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (emphasis added)

Mount Pleasant’s shale gas drilling company is Range Resources. But maybe not for much longer.

The state’s largest Marcellus Shale drilling company has threatened to discontinue its considerable drilling activities and economic support of businesses in the Washington County township because it says township officials are uncooperative.

A Range spokesman said the township’s long-standing refusal to allow the company to temporarily house well foremen and workers in trailer-style bunkhouses on its drill sites prompted the warning, which is contained in one of two letters sent to Mount Pleasant residents by the company earlier this week.

But a township official said the letters, which don’t mention the bunkhouse issue, are an attempt to intimidate township leaders as they near a vote later this month on a new “conditional use ordinance” to govern where and how drilling operations may operate in the township. The proposed ordinance, which has taken more than a year to draft, will require prior approval of the township’s planning commission and board of supervisors for all new wells.

Gas well drilling in the township is now done under a “permitted use” that allows drilling under state regulations but requires no local approval.

“We are outraged,” said Dencil Bachus, a Mount Pleasant resident and coordinator of a citizens committee that advised the township on the Marcellus ordinance. “This is an effort by Range Resources to divide a community on the eve of a decision on an ordinance that affects them directly. It’s an attempt by the company to get what they want rather than operate within the [township government] process. It’s a divide-and-conquer public relations strategy.”

Per Desmogblog.com: The first letter, sent in April 2011 to all Mt. Pleasant Township residents [PDF], used a ‘winning hearts and minds’ style approach, touting the company’s local investments:

“Over those years, we have become a part of your community. From millions of dollars in corporate giving to tax-free road improvements, Range has strived to be a good neighbor and community partner.”

Range sent a second letter around the same time, but only to property owners with gas leases. It appears to seek to divide the community, by threatening that the company might pull out of the town if it didn’t get its way, essentially striking fear into residents that such a decision would hurt their lease income and encouraging them to pressure local leaders to keep Range happy. The second letter [PDF] states:

“Throughout the state, Range is held up as the model for the natural gas drilling industry; everywhere, that is, except Mt. Pleasant. While we have made every effort to establish a positive and robust working relationship with your elected officials, our attempts continue to be rejected. As a result, we are sending this communication to inform you that we have revised our future long-term plans in the Township due to continuing difficulties with your Township supervisors and their unwillingness to work with us. As it stands, those revisions may prove detrimental to leaseholders.

Ultimately we may be forced to shift activity to other, more cooperative townships. The shifting of operational activities will inevitably result in the shift of related activities, including the purchase of goods, services and food to other, more cooperative communities.”

TXSharon from BlueDaze blog knows firsthand about Range Resource strong arming.   In June 2012, TXSharon received notice she was to be deposed by Range Resources.  What followed were a couple of months of strong arming and intimidation.

Click here for her full story.

As a side note – TXSharon came to the attention of Range Resources when she reported on the use of PSY-OPS for bringing “insurgents” under control.

They are calling it a war. They use the US Army/Marine Corp Insurgency Manual against us because we are considered “insurgents.” They employ ex-military PSYOPS personnel in our neighborhoods. They track us and map our relationships. I have blogged about this extensively and there was some media coverage but not nearly enough.

Also see:  Gas Fracking Industry Using Military Psychological Warfare Tactics and Personnel In U.S. Communities

More recently Range Resources offered to make problems go away for Cecil Township.

On Monday, October 15, 2012, Governor Corbett announced distribution of the “impact fee”.  What he didn’t announce was the withholding of impact fees, totally nearly $1 million from four townships.  Cecil, Mt. Pleasant, Robinson and South Fayette townships, which filed an appeal to Act 13, the law governing gas drilling in the state, have been left out of the impact fee disbursement loop for now.

“Attorney John Smith, the solicitor for Cecil and Robinson townships, immediately contacted the state Public Utilities Commission and advised the agency that it is violating the Act 13 law by withholding the fees. Under the statute, the PUC or an appellate court must first issue an order that the municipality’s local ordinance is in violation of the law before payments can be withheld.

“Nowhere in Act 13 is the PUC given the authority to deem a township ineligible for impact fees merely because a request for review is currently pending,” he wrote.

In July, Commonwealth Court ruled against provisions in Act 13 for statewide zoning of shale gas drilling. The PUC and DEP appealed to the state Supreme Court, which will hear oral arguments in the case beginning Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

But Matt Pitzarella, a spokesman for Range Resources, said Smith gave the townships bad advice.

“They’re writing illegal ordinances; the law is crystal clear,” he said, noting the townships could have had the PUC review their ordinances to see if they were in compliance with the law.

In a letter dated October 22, 2012 from Donald Gennuso, Cecil Township Manager to Jim Cannon, Local Government Affairs Manager for Range Resources, the issue of a request by Range Resources to meet with the township supervisors was addressed.

Range has offered to convince a leaseholder to drop a lawsuit filed against the town with the Pennsylvania Utility Commission if the Cecil Supervisors agree to a private meeting with Range.  Dropping of the lawsuit would mean Cecil Township could receive the promised impact fees.

Excerpt:

Next in the article (Pa. lawmaker, Range Resources differ on souring of ties.  ) Range Resources quotes an email excerpt from White back in 2011.   No link to the original email was given, just the excerpt.  Supposedly, a copy of the email was given to the Times-Review, but the Times-Review has not released it to the public.  Excerpt is below.

“Just found out I had a few tickets to the game and am looking at our travel arrangements,” White wrote on Jan. 28, 2011, to Range Chief Operating Officer Ray Walker, in emails Range gave the Tribune-Review. “If the Range plane was heading down, any chance we could stowaway in the cargo hold?”

White claims it was a joke.   Let’s see the entire email before we decide if stowing away in the cargo hold request was a case of strong arming or a joke.

Pitzarella said Range decided to release the emails and some letters to White — regarding his claims that Range divides and conquers communities and violates federal hiring practices — because “I have been asked time and time again, ‘What has happened with this relationship? Has Range changed, or has Jesse changed?’ and we believe these emails provide people with that missing context.”  

Again, show us the emails.

And speaking about Super Bowl 2011: Range Resouces To Wine, Dine Lawmakers At Super Bowl Party — In Texas.  | themorningcall.com | Feb. 3, 2011

For those lucky enough to attend, you’ll be among “Steelers fans, friends of Range Resources and even some Super Steeler greats,” where you’ll enjoy “a classic Texas BBQ, music and entertainment as we cheer on the Steelers to another Super Bowl championship,” the invitation reads.

Range Resources next implies there is some discontent by White because Range was less than forthcoming with “campaign” funds.  Again only a selected excerpt was presented in the article:

In the June 17 email, White told Range he found it “disheartening” the company would send only one employee to another industry fundraiser he organized.

“I spent the better part of the day Tuesday working my colleagues on the House floor to oppose the proposed severance tax bill, which was defeated because a core group of ten Democrats (myself included) flatly refused to vote for it while other members who profess to support your industry were busy cutting deals in exchange for their votes,” White wrote.

White later sponsored a failed bill to impose a per-well fee on drillers.

“I take massive amounts of abuse from my constituents every single day about the Marcellus industry,” White wrote in the same email, “and I believe I have done an honest and sincere job of supporting your efforts to create jobs and educate people about Marcellus (shale). I just wanted to express my disappointment at this lack of public support.”

According to Marcellusmoney.org, White has received a total of $7,250 from natural gas corporations between 2009-2011, with $5,000 of that from Range Resources.  In comparison Range Resources has given $173,905 to various Pennsylvania political campaigns between 2009-2011.  Of that amount $46,755 went to Gov. Corbett. 

If Corbett suddenly decides not to “play ball” will Range Resources start releasing emails?  On second thought, let Range Resources release ALL correspondence from ALL Pennsylvania Legislators and candidates, just to make sure Range Resources got their money’s worth.

Other Reads:

• Pennsylvania Politicians – Now On Sale
• Pennsylvania Legislators Strike GOLD in Shale!
• Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission’s Swivel Chairs
• Marcellus Shale Coalition: In the Lobby
• Mayor Tillman 7 Range Resources 0
• Range Resources: Most Despised Frackers In US ?
• How One Man’s Flaming Water Fired Up a Battle Between Texas and the EPA

Speaking of poop and Range, don’t forget DoodyGate:

• Here’s the Poop on Range Resources toxic spill in Barnett Shale
• Toxic spill at Range Resources Barnett Shale gas well in Denton, Texas

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©2012 by Dory Hippauf

Related posts:

Range Resource: Making Problems Go Away Range Resources: Where the Sun don’t shine Mayor Tillman 7 Range Resources 0 Range Resources: Most Despised Frackers In US ? Range Resources Resorts to Fracking Fractavists

Tagged as: campaign contributions, Cecil, Chip Northrup, David Poole, EID, energy in depth, EPA dimock, frack, fracking, fracking pollution, gas well leaks, gas wells, Greenlee Partners, Jesse White, Marcellus Shale, marcellus shale coalition, Mt Pleasent, psy-ops, range resources, Super Bowl