Councilman to propose gas drilling ban in city; Ravenstahl opposes idea
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh City Councilman Doug Shields today plans to unveil legislation to ban natural gas drilling in the city, saying he's wants to test a municipality's right to self-government, even if that means inviting a legal challenge from the drilling industry.

"Why can't we say no? Why is it that local authorities, the local government, can't make that determination?" Mr. Shields said Monday, the same day that the University of Pittsburgh reported a surge in the number of Allegheny County property owners who have leased land for oil and gas exploration.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10229/1080536-53.stm