Bloomberg News: Huge Fracking Co. Accused of Bullying Critics and Elected Officials

[JPZenger]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-19/texas-fracker-accused-of-bully-tactics-against-foes.html

From Bloomberg Co. News.

"Texas Fracker Accused of Bully Tactics Against Foes.

Excerpts:

"Critics say the Fort Worth-based company, which pioneered the use of hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus shale, has taken a hard line with residents, local officials and activists. In one case it threatened a former EPA official with legal action; in another it stopped participating in town hearings to review its own applications to drill, because local officials were asking too many questions and taking too long.

“Range Resources is different from its peers in that it chooses to severely punish its critics,” said Calvin Tillman, the former mayor of Dish, Texas, and an activist who has been subpoenaed and issued legal warnings by Range. “Most companies avoid the perception of the big-bad-bully oil company, while Range Resources embraces it.”

In Pennsylvania, a state lawmaker who criticized the company was dubbed “completely unhinged” by a Range representative and had his fundraising e-mails to its executives leaked to the local newspaper.

...Instead of fundraising issues, it was growing complaints from local residents and seeing what he views as Range’s actions strong-arming local townships that turned him against the company, PA. Representative White said in an interview. It was only after White questioned state regulators’ testing of water where residents say gas-drilling contaminated their supplies that his e-mails to Range showed up in the newspaper, he said. Around that same time a pro-drilling group also sponsored robo-calls to his constituents, urging them to call White’s office and complain that he opposes the gas industry. “It’s a non-stop onslaught,” he said. “This has taken over my life.”

[MotherPetrie]

1. Beyond evil

[Champion Jack]

2. Evil Thugs

[Ednahilda]

3. Is Range passing money to Corbett?

Wouldn't surprise me at all.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. We all know they are.

Although I am not sure whether wingnut Corbett needs to be bought off to side with them.

[enough]

4. k&r from PA (nt)

[Curmudgeoness]

6. You can't mean Range Resources, with all the fluffy ads

on radio and TV, can you???? Talk about truth in advertising!

Interestingly, I tried to find one of the ads to post here, but a real quick search did not find anything but long drawn-out videos on their website.

But I did find this, surprisingly on Business Week:

May 18 (Bloomberg) -- Sharon Wilson, who writes for the blog BlueDaze and works for the Earthworks' Oil & Gas Accountability Project, discusses the court order filed by gas driller Range Resources Corp. against Steven Lipsky and Alisa Rich. Lipsky, a homeowner in Weatherford, Texas, recorded methane-fueled flames shooting out of his well and holds Range responsible for the contamination. He hired Alisa Rich to test the water in his well and alert the Environmental Protection Agency. Wilson posted the video footage on YouTube. Range is seeking $3 million in damages from Rich and Lipsky, accusing them of harming the company's reputation. (Source: Bloomberg)

http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2012-05-18/range-resources-sues-homeowner-over-youtube-video