Marcellus Shale

I wanted to post a letter to the editor I wrote for the Erie Times:

Dear Editor,

It has come to my attention that recently there has been quite a rash of “Pro-Marcellus-Shale-Drilling” letters to the editor, which has left me—I must admit—a little bit worried. Worried not only about the fact that I do believe people are being manipulated into thinking that fracture-style drilling will actually bring “JOBS”, “SECURITY” and “WEALTH” to the local region, but also worried that this manipulation will be used to support another money-hungry, boom-and-bust type of industrial pillaging that Western Pennsylvania has been so accustomed to in its long history: first Big Coal and Big Steel; now, Big Gas.
Information abounds as to why “Fracking” is not exactly the most beneficial industry to rear its head in Western Pennsylvania, as it itself has left its own trail of destruction and misinformation wherever its large boot has landed: destroyed watersheds, poor oversight in regards to dumping water, polluted rivers, annihilated forests, corrupt political campaigns, a total EXEMPTION FROM THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT (see Energy Policy Act of 2005, section 322), and worst of all, a total disregard for the people that its unregulated, haphazardly-placed wells have affected in the form of asthma-ridden lungs, neurologically-destroyed brains and ruined property.
And, honestly, the problems are not that far off from our safe abode here in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Has anyone been down to Washington or Greene County lately? Has anyone read about the numerous accounts of polluted wells and water shed systems there? Has anyone seen the eye-sores that are the drilling rigs perched atop the once-was-beautiful Southwestern Pennsylvania hills? I have. I went to school there. And, really, not much positive news is coming out of those regions. In fact, all I hear are stories of migrant workers from a laundry list of states—Texas, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Kansas (no Pennsylvanians)—who run into the town, build the drilling rigs and leave. I hear of bubbling faucets, fish kills and the largest amount of pollution in the Monongahela River since Andrew Carnegie’s blast furnaces burned brightly along its banks—30 years ago!
Which is why —as I’m sure you can tell—I am down-right perplexed as to why Marcellus Shale drilling is seriously still being debated as a possible “positive” development for our region: It has a terrible environmental record. The wells themselves are self-maintaining (and polluting), so there is not real need for a job. To actually “frack” the shale enough to release the gas, there needs to be a highly-toxic slurry of chemicals shoved down into the ground, of which, only 20% come back to the surface. And, we are not even so sure as to how profitable this gas will be to the state itself, as most of the companies are from out of state and are completely untaxed under Pennsylvania legislation, and will most likely be selling this gas to foreign buyers.
So, I think it is time to maybe rethink our love affair with Marcellus Shale drilling. After all, are not we—the residents of a state that for so long has given up her resources for the rapacious enrichment of a few tycoons—the ones who should stand up and speak up when a clear pattern of manipulation, extraction and misinformation is being perpetrated?
I do not know about you, but I’m not sold on Big Gas yet, as I do believe it’s got some rotting skeletons in its closet, and they sure do STINK.