COURSE TITLE: “Fractured Gas — Fractured State: A History” (CMU Zoom)

Life — Long Learning Class on the History of Fracking with Doug Shields

>> Message from Jan Milburn, Westmoreland Marcellus Citizens’ Group, Facebook, December 10, 2021

Dear Friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances, I am happy to let you all know that I will be conducting a 4-part course at CMU’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Fractured Gas – Fractured State: A History, beginning on March 9, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. The class will be on Zoom so, you don’t have to wear a mask and you can sip your favorite beverage too.

I think the class is limited to 35 but I am open to adding more if possible. Please feel free to sign up for the course. I have provided the appropriate links below. I do hope you consider participating in the course in March. Here is the course description:

TITLE: Fractured Gas — Fractured State: A History (Zoom)

Study Leader: Douglas Shields • 4 Classes: Mar. 9 – Mar. 30
• Wednesday, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM • Online Course, Class ID: 4118

Here is the course description to be found at page 66 of the catalogue: “Journey into PA’s gas-rich Marcellus Shale with former Pittsburgh Council President Doug Shields.”

This four-part course takes an in depth look at fracking in PA —

Part 1 provides a review of how the 2005 federal Energy Act exempted fracking from environmental law; how and why fracking came to Pennsylvania; and, early impacts upon Pennsylvania’s physical and political landscape.

Part 2 The politics of fracking; the 2010 Pittsburgh ban; unprecedented industry lobbying; the PA Oil & Gas Act of 2013; and, municipal governments fighting back, winning big, while the PA Supreme Court gives life to a long dormant PA right to clean air and water.

Part 3 focuses on the fracking industry’s impacts on our health and environ- ment.

Part 4 will present a look to the future for fracking here in PA and proven solutions for citizens in order to protect the character and health of their communities.

Doug Shields’ career in Pittsburgh’s City Council (1992-2012) spanned 20 years, serving twelve years as a Chief of Staff to Councilman Bob O’Connor and, eight years as a Member of Council, serving two terms as President of Council. Prior to his public service, he was an environmental law paralegal at two prestigious law firms that focused on corporate clients. In August of 2010, he introduced the Community Rights Ordinance that banned fracking in Pittsburgh — the first such ban in the world. He secured its passage on November 16, 2010, by a unanimous 9-0 vote. It still stands to this day. During his tenure on Council, Shields was recognized for his expertise in municipal finance, planning, zoning and land use matters. He has also taught leadership courses at Duquesne University at both the Master’s and undergrad level. He recently retired from Food & Water Watch (a national environmental advocacy organization) where he was a local government outreach specialist, advising local governments and citizens alike on how best to deal with fracking or the threat of fracking in their communities.

Osher Winter Course Catalogue — https://www.cmu.edu/…/2022/winter/winter-2022_final.pdf

Osher- CMU — https://www.cmu.edu/osher/courses-and-events/index.html

>>> All the best, Doug Shields