To the Editor: 

Held Hostage in Nockamixon 

To the natural gas juggernaut cloaked in the banner of energy independence and national security, Nockamixon wasn’t much of an obstacle.  Historically, the township has been a dumping ground – Revere Chemical, now a Superfund site; the Bickel and Hidden Valley landfills; and the very questionable Cabot property.  In the mid-1980’s, savvy landmen for North Central leased land for oil exploration from Nockamixon residents with dollar signs in their eyes but left quietly when bank accounts didn’t blossom.  More than 25 years later, savvier landmen returned to once again quietly infiltrate our neighborhood like Lord Voldermort controlled Death Eaters in a Harry Potter novel, targeting the most vulnerable before their presence could be publicly detected.  

In her recent editorial in area newspapers, Ms. Sienkowski, a former employee of North Central Oil and proponent of this controversial activity, responds to Ms. Reid’s drilling concerns with opinions to which she is entitled but she is sadly mistaken in the “facts” she regurgitates to the public regarding the form lease.  I highly recommend that she read it, as it is not difficult to see that it leaves few rights and little benefit to the landowner.

 Most important of all, Ms. Sienkowski missed completely Ms. Reid’s very salient point that the majority of this township did not sign gas and oil exploration leases (approximately 20% of the households did, some of whom have since expressed a desire to get out of it) and our elected officials recently passed an ordinance regulating this activity in an effort to minimize the detrimental impact to our town.  But now the State claims that we have no right to govern ourselves and Nockamixon must do as it says, ignoring the risks to individuals, our community and our environment.  In short, we are being told that the right to exist as a democracy is non-existent.  We are being held hostage by state lawmakers and agencies pandering to corporate and others’ greed.

 So it’s no surprise that the flawed pro-drilling arguments made by Ms. Sienkowski come down to the almighty dollar (I suggest she note the provision in the form lease that “grant[s] [Arbor] the right to change  . . . conditions of operation or payment (emphasis added). . .” ), ignoring completely the issue of democratic governance, quality of life, community and the numerous very real documented safety, environmental and other risks attendant to this activity.  Among them, the DEP’s projection that there is a 10% chance of contaminating our water supply.

 I believe Ms. Sienkowski and other like-minded individuals are being lead down the garden path for, at best, a few cents on the dollar.  But any gain that is at the expense of the invaluable and irreplaceable assets of our environment and quality of life is unconscionable.

 Lastly in response to Ms. Sienkowski’s implication, passion like that exhibited by Ms. Reid in looking at reality incites people to step up to the plate to change the world for the greater good.   And cool heads do make good decisions, but not when they are buried in the sand or blinded by dollar signs.

 Katherine Throckmorton

Concerned Nockamixon Resident

and “rabidly fearful” for the democratic future of our community