Pa.'s New Jobs Czar Fought Enviro Regs for Years

A shorter version of this story was co-published with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but the scandalous history of this guy is worth the longer read. (Pro Publica allows reprints for free)
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11101/1138525-454.stm
http://www.propublica.or
Headline, Sidebars & links:

For years C. Alan Walker, a coal industry mogul and wealthy donor to Pennsylvania's Republican Party, clashed with environmental officials who tried to regulate his companies. He described them as "vindictive," "out of control" and "the most dangerous thing" affecting the country's welfare. In 1981 Walker even argued that the state should let someone from industry influence how environmental regulations were enforced.

Now, some 30 years later, Walker himself has been given exactly that role by the state's new Republican governor, Tom Corbett, who has accepted nearly $184,000 in political donations from Walker since 2004.

In January Corbett appointed Walker acting secretary for the state's Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). In March he gave him authority to expedite and influence permits at any state agency, including the Department of Environmental Protection, which regulates drilling in the Marcellus Shale, one of the nation's most important natural gas fields. Walker was also appointed to the state's Marcellus Shale Commission, a multi-stakeholder group that will advise the state in developing the shale. The goal, Corbett has said, is to "make Pennsylvania the Texas of the natural gas boom" and "create jobs, not votes."

Walker's assignment has raised questions about how a businessman whose coal companies were cited numerous times for polluting streams and drinking water -- and who then fought the state's orders to clean them up -- will work with DEP officials who are tasked with carrying out environmental laws.
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Here's just one outrageous example of Walker's behavior, from the lengthier ProPublica report which was not included in the PG's article.

When an elderly woman's basement in Clearfield County filled with muddy red acid mine drainage water and contaminated her water supply in 1991, she complained to the state environment department. Walker's company sued her, forcing her family to take out a second mortgage and pay some $15,000 in legal fees, according to news reports at the time. The suit was dismissed, but she was left to pay the legal fees. In response to her plight, State Rep. Camille "Bud" George wrote an anti-SLAPP law to protect citizens from retaliatory lawsuits meant to intimidate witnesses. Pennsylvania passed a version of the law in 2000.
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I was working in the PA House when Bud George introduced, fought tooth and nail for, and finally got passed the anti-Slapp law. A fine piece of legislation & a fine state representative.

I keep hoping I'll wake up and PA will be sane again.

USUncut will be protesting in Harrisburg on 4/22 regarding the Marcellus Shale:

http://www.usuncut.org/actions/238

I hope there is a huge,noisy turnout.

:hi:

Happy to be here:)