WILLIAMSPORT – Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23) today issued the following statement on the University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, shale gas development impact studies.
“In what is supposed to be an unbiased scientific undertaking, the University of Pittsburgh, under contract with the Department of Health, commissioned lead researcher, Dr. Talbott, who has publicly expressed opposition to natural gas in the past, to complete their study. Additionally, last fall, the department themselves cautioned studies like this are very difficult to conclude causation because so many other influences are omitted.
While I am still reviewing the findings, I fear these significant caveats have been lost in the noise of this inherently partial study and I believe we must call into question the process being used to conduct important public health research and the legitimacy of their results. Prioritizing public health and safety is possible while conducting fact-based, objective analyses. They are not mutually exclusive.”
CONTACT:
Elizabeth Weitzel
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