As The President Overhauls Coal Leases on Federal Land, His Administration Ignores the Threat of Natural Gas

Statement by Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch

Washington, D.C. – “We applaud the Obama administration for addressing coal leases on federal land, but we can’t ignore that there is another extreme fossil fuel wrecking the environment and human health that his administration continues to promote. It has led to a terrible public health and climate disaster that is unfolding in Porter Ranch, California, and his administration can and should do something to address it.
 
“Today, we’re asking the EPA to use its authority to shut down the Aliso Canyon storage facility that has been spewing massive amounts of climate-altering methane and thousands of pounds of noxious gas each day into the surrounding community.
 
“The blowout in Porter Ranch is a reminder of the threat of fossil fuels to our environment and public health. The Obama administration must use its executive authority to shut down the aging storage facility.
 
“This disaster underscores the need to end reliance on fossil fuels and transitioning to 100 percent truly clean, renewable energy. Obama must also move to end federal leases for fracked oil and gas.”
 
Food & Water Watch champions healthy food and clean water for all. We stand up to corporations that put profits before people, and advocate for a democracy that improves people’s lives and protects our environment.