Pittsburgh councilman to propose gas drilling ban

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh City Councilman Doug Shields has called a news conference to announce a bill that would ban corporations from drilling for natural gas in the city limits.

Shields’ bill comes as the number of leases signed by property owners to allow drilling for Marcellus Shale gas deposits has boomed in recent months.

Shields will be accompanied by a representative from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, which is drafting the bill.

Shields say the bill is about more than gas drilling. He says it’s about local self-government and the ability to “say ’no’ to corporations that will cause damage to our community.”