truth + creativity
Invisible Hand focuses on how state regulations and elected leaders work with members of the public in order to solve problems from the impacts of fracking; and what recourse is made available if one or both fail.
Pennsylvania has become the model for lawmakers across the country. It currently holds some of the strongest oil and gas regulations on record in the largest shale play of the United States. The Invisible Hand series aims to clear the water for decision-makers within shale plays to better understand the firsthand experience of regulations on fracking.
From the start, this series has helped spark national attention to the issue. It's claim to fame came in the first story which peaked The Daily Show's interest wherein they created, with help from Public Herald, their first-ever segment on fracking.
This project also shares it's reports with the #fileroom, which is now in BETA Version 1.0 ». The #fileroom project is now actively being used by communities to share information with state regulators and industry. Community members in Springfield Twp., PA have cited it as their most accurate place for information; more accurate than what was given to them by both the state and industry.
Rose Marie Grzinzic is neighbor to the “Lamb’s Farm Storage Facility,” a fracking wastewater site known locally as the “tank farm.” It’s one of 28 WMGR123 permits issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and allows […]
Written by Joshua Pribanic & Amanda Gillooly for PublicHerald.org Nine Smithfield Township natural gas leaseholders have banded together to fight a new permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection that allows more than 700,000 gallons of toxic […]
It’s day one and Christine Pepper’s family has no water. There’s no water for the family to drink, to shower, or wash their clothes so they’re making calls to inlaws and saving single gallon plastic jugs. It’s day one, and the Pepper family has 45 days until they know what’s happened. It started when Christine splashed water on her face from the kitchen faucet and a burning sensation shot through her skin. “It felt like my face was on fire for 20 minutes,” she said. Later red bumps developed. Not shortly after there was no water at all. The Pepper's spring-fed well, which had produced water for more than 50 years, went completely dry. “I’m not saying we’ve never had low water," explains Christine’s husband Corey, "but it always comes right back, but it’s stayed dry for two weeks. And... I’ve never seen it! I’m 42, I’ve lived here 42 years, and my Dad was 18 when he bought this house.”
