Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Matzie praises PennEnergy surrender of petition to withdraw water from Big Sewickley Creek – calls decision ‘the right move’

Matzie praises PennEnergy surrender of petition to withdraw water from Big Sewickley Creek – calls decision ‘the right move’

AMBRIDGE, May 29 – State Rep. Rob Matzie, who is Chairman of the House Majority Caucus, issued the following statement in response to news that PennEnergy has rescinded its permit to withdraw 1.5 million gallons of water per day from Big Sewickley Creek:

“Today, we learned that PennEnergy is surrendering its petition to withdraw water from Big Sewickley Creek after determining that the creek’s flow would not be sufficient for their planned operations. “The decision was purely a logistical one, but it is the best possible news for our community, our environment and the thousands of residents who treasure the creek and everything it offers. 

“We had opposed PennEnergy’s petitions from the start, based on concerns that withdrawing large volumes of water would escalate drought, cause devastating harm to the surrounding habitat and irreparably damage the creek, which provides a vital source of fresh water for our area and supports a multitude of wildlife.

“Today’s decision is the right move and puts all those concerns to rest.”