The public needs accurate information to understand how natural gas drilling operations may affect Pennsylvania's water quality, but ProPublica's Oct. 4 article in the Post-Gazette ("What Can Be Done With Wastewater?") uses outdated and erroneous data and out-of-context quotations from 6-month-old interviews to paint a very misleading picture.

The Department of Environmental Protection has taken steps to protect Pennsylvania's waterways by doubling the number of oil and gas inspectors, inspecting all Marcellus Shale drilling sites, issuing violation notices when needed and even shutting down operations when the law is repeatedly broken. There are also 13 monitors measuring total dissolved solids along the Monongahela River -- another point ProPublica ignored.

DEP ordered municipal water treatment facilities to cut the amount of drilling water discharged to the Mon by 95 percent in October 2008. That order remains in effect. In August, DEP unveiled regulations that will significantly reduce TDS discharges. These restrictions are being written into new permits now and will go into full effect statewide on Jan. 1, 2011.

Developing the Marcellus Shale is a huge opportunity for Pennsylvania, but there are real challenges in doing it right. Relying on facts, sound practices and strong enforcement efforts are key to addressing these challenges for our shared benefit. The public can be assured that as more and more wells are drilled in Pennsylvania to capitalize on our abundant natural gas resources, DEP will remain vigilant in protecting the state's rivers and streams.

JOHN HANGER
Secretary
Department of Environmental Protection
Harrisburg

Our water war

What can be done with wastewater from gas and coal drilling ("What Can Be Done With Wastewater," Oct. 4)? At the present time nowhere in the state is there one sewage plant that has the proper equipment to remove the total dissolved solids from this wastewater.

Drilling companies truck water around the state trying to dilute it by spreading it around in more rivers and streams statewide. New treatment plants that may be able to clean up this wastewater may be built by 2013, if then. Who will get charged for these new plants? One guess will lead directly to you -- the taxpayer.

While our water will continue to be wasted and rivers and streams poisoned, gas and coal companies will say and do anything they can to keep this destruction going and their "cha-ching" going with it. Watch their TV ads, which will soon overtake the prescription drug ads that come on every four minutes or so.

If the people don't stop this, politicians hired by the aristocrats who run the country with their "side-arms," the Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency, will keep this dance going in favor of ... guess who?

Right now all of us are losing this water war to the haves.

RAY FIGOLA
Liberty

Kudos to Highmark

I feel compelled to respond to the derogatory comments about health insurers by recounting our very positive experience with Highmark here in Pittsburgh.

When my husband and I retired in 2001, we arranged a meeting with a representative from Highmark to investigate private-pay options. We were stunned to learn we could obtain a comprehensive package at a price considerably lower than our current USX COBRA.

Four years after joining the Highmark Direct Blue plan, I incurred serious health problems, resulting in ongoing costly outlays of health-care dollars. Never once has this insurance company denied coverage or questioned any of my bills. The few concerns that have arisen have always been addressed promptly by courteous and competent representatives.

Yes, our rates have gone up, but certainly not in an exorbitant fashion and, no, neither I nor any of my family work for Highmark.

CAROL PROBST
Bethel Park

Thank unions

In response to the article "Metro Area Ranks 2nd in Health Insurance" (Sept. 22) and the subsequent letter "Our Region Provides a Blueprint for Insurance Access" (Sept. 30) lauding Highmark for the large percentage of health insured in the Pittsburgh area: It would be unfair to omit the role of unions in securing health care for workers.

For many years, Pittsburgh has had a strong union presence in the work force. Through the collective bargaining process, living wages, health, disability and pension benefits have been negotiated. This in turn has caused many nonunion employers to provide these benefits.

It's time to give unions credit for their role in procuring a decent standard of living for all workers.

R. MICHAEL O'SHEA
Indiana, Pa.
The writer is a member of Iron Workers Local 3.

Cut the coffee

Regarding 100 days without a state budget causing disruption to the lives of thousands, and your report in a front-page article by Sadie Gurman (" 'No Win' for Nonprofits Relying on State Funds," Oct. 8) that staff at the Grapevine Center in Butler had to switch from regular coffee to decaf; The center's board president, Jack McKenna, was quoted, "They're not getting a bump from it, so they won't drink as much. Any penny we can save."

How about saving by not providing free coffee in the first place? I certainly never got free coffee at work. I would imagine that the Grapevine Center has more urgent needs for its funds than coffee for its employees.

MICHAEL ROTEMAN
Mt. Lebanon

Onorato's stance

Where are the real Democrats? The FDR Democrats. What has happened when we have a Democratic candidate for governor in Dan Onorato who describes his record and message as that of a pro-business progressive ("Onorato Makes It Official," Oct. 7). That seems to be a bit of an oxymoron.

No one, including me, is anti-business, especially small business, but how can you be progressive and then as part of your platform make a big point of planning to reduce the business tax burden?

Where is his concern for the individual, making a pledge to reduce the size of the Legislature, advocating for a depletion tax on the extraction of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale?

Mr. Onorato shows by his own words and actions (freeze on property assessments) where his true allegiances lie and I believe that the only reason that he runs as a Democrat is that it increases his odds of success. I, for one, will certainly be looking for other than a "Dino" to be the next governor.

HENRY W. JONES
Moon

Library trustees made decisions after much deliberation

As trustees of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, we want to assure all members of our community that we understand and appreciate the value of libraries to each and every neighborhood and to the many people we serve from across Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. As part of the planning and decision process, the library hosted three community meetings.

Trustees attending the community meetings were deeply moved by the statements made about the need for safe places for children, learning opportunities, access to computers and gathering spots -- services that libraries provide to our neighborhoods. We were touched and impressed by the passion and support library users have for their local libraries.

The trustees are volunteers who also care passionately about libraries, the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh and the individuals whose lives are impacted by library service. So it was with months of discussion and deliberation that the plan was developed, a plan necessitated by a growing deficit and no additional near-term funding in sight. The trustees of this public trust are obligated by our largest funding authority to approve a balanced budget. To do so required a sharing of the cost reductions across the entire system, including cuts in service hours, staff and even branches. We voted on a plan that would stretch our budget as far as possible to provide quality service, invest in our collections and maintain our facilities.

Please understand that these were not easy decisions, but they were made by a dedicated group of individuals who seek to serve the public when they sign on as trustees. Our goal has been, and remains, to identify greater levels of financial support that are predictable from year to year so that Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh can continue to serve the people of Pittsburgh.

CAROL ROBINSON
Life Trustee
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Fox Chapel
The letter was also signed by trustees Betsy Watkins of Oakland and Terri Wolfe of the North Side.

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