Regarding the lady's story published Sept. 10 about dead and dying plants, maybe she could call and ask the master gardeners at the county extension office. They are usually a great help to people and answer all questions. Only DEP would know if oil and gas industry is impacting the atmosphere which it may well be doing.
I do know oil and gas is carbon based and it does affect atmosphere. Especially if there is a temperature inversion.
On History Channel one day it stated due to inversion people from two towns died due to pollution from steel and zinc plants in 1951.
The towns ran out of coffins at funeral homes and finally the government stepped in and created Clean Air Act.
And the story on Labor Day on History Channel was history of oil. It is carbon based and the conveyor belt of the ocean that oxygenates the ocean and brings warmth to northern climates. Shut down for 10 days in 20004, heat melted so much ice it diluted salt in water that keeps conveyor belt going. Also, it runs the Gulf Stream.
We are polluting air so much now at four times the amount volcanoes put out. The Earth will need millions of years to clean itself and we will all be long gone by then from dead star, no oxygen in air and pollution. So, yes, there could be a connection, but do call the Cooperative Extension Office and-or DEP.
Stephanie Crayton
Williamsport
