David Naro’s Comment:
October 2, 2010 at 7:49 pm (Edit)
The number of jobs the drilling has created is extraordinary. I have a degree in conservation biology and I’m a 100% supporter of domestic energy and jobs. I feel it’s a shame you don’t want to lower the unemployment rate, especially in NEPA. Oh, the claim that drilling contaminates water is BS. Check out junkscience.com
NoFrackMountain’s Reply:
October 3, 2010 at 10:48 pm
David ,
Thank you for commenting. I, too, am a supporter of domestic energy and jobs. I consume local milk, cheese, beer, produce, and whatever else I can support. I patronize local restaurants and businesses rather than the chain invaders. I have not been perfect, but I am becoming more mindful and resolute with each day
Rather than turning back to the mines, perhaps this region should move forward into the green, local, and organic future. People want to know their family’s food is safe. Our shores are awash in plastic and our soil is polluted with insecticides, herbicides and God knows what else. Our government refuses to require corporations to reveal when genetically modified organisms are used in a product. These concerns will not go away.
Energy bills continue to increase There are always promises to lower them. But dirty energy – the kind where you blast open a mountaintop, or shatter shale a mile below – is costly and leaves a sad legacy.
NEPA ought to be manufacturing (jobs), shipping (jobs), installing (jobs), and retrofitting (jobs) alternative systems such as solar, wind, geo, and small hydro. We have good universities, experienced manufacturers, and excellent trades people. We are at a hub of transportation routes.
I believe that horizontal fracturing is a nasty business. Even if we managed it perfectly (how often is that done?) we cannot escape the fact that each fracking leaves millions of gallons of fresh water polluted and left underground. Multiply that by hundreds of thousands of frackings and you have a significant body of toxic slurry sloshing its way around a shattered system of bedrock. This once fresh water will no longer be part of our water cycle. But it will forever be a threat.
It is time we practiced human scale, not corporate scale.
Herb
Frack Mountain 
Herb: Welcome back.
David: Junk science? Really?
Herb, you are too kind.
David should take a swim at Sugar Run.
Better yet, the Monongahela.
Good response, Herb. I’m not convinced, Fracked, that there is such a thing as too much kindness. It is too little kindness that has taken us to where we are. The more I learn and participate in this debate, the more I am convinced that those who are blind to the caveats and consequences of drilling have put money and short term economics so far at the front of their collective priority list that what follows is not even in view. The Native American tribal councils made no decisions without looking forward for 7 generations. We need only look forward about 1.5 (20 – 30 years) to see that we are sacrificing sustainability for short term profits. Our children and grandchildren will ask if we held a funeral for wisdom when it died.
Well put, Herb. It saddens me to think that the gas companies have been able to brainwash so many of our neighbors and friends into thinking that this industry is not “dirty”. With every well that is drilled here, it becomes more and more evident to me that our beautiful region may be destined to become another Dimock. When will people wake up from the “green” stupor that has enveloped them? When it does, I’m hoping that it won’t be too late…
IF “david” has the type of degree he claims, then he should know better. there is no question about the amount or kind of damage that is being done and the devastation ahead of us here in NEPA. dimmock is just the tip of the iceberg. i live just a few miles from that location, own property, have always had clean water and conserve in every way possible – always have! i have NOT signed with any gas company, nor will i – ever! money truly IS the root of all evil and i am seeing it every day with my neighbors – hoping for wealth through “fracking” and ignoring the future. i raised my family here and hoped to leave it to them when i am gone. now – my children have no interest in maintaining what we have loved about the endless mountains for years, due to the invasion that has fallen upon us. they fear for my health due to the PROVEN contamination all around us and cancer causing chemicals being poured into the water from the fracking process and all some can worry about is the economy and the jobs being created? what ever happened to common sense and humanity? we will all be forced to either relocate or die from the illnesses caused by these contaminants in the water and in the air we breathe. when these gas companies “move on” – and they will – where will PA be then? i saw it with the coal companies and it will happen again with the gas companies, too. only ghost towns will remain and “fat cat” gas company owners with their million dollar mansions and yachts – one last comment – “WAKE UP”!
Don – what did the Pope say to Copernicus?
Fracked – I hear Alka Seltzer wants to do a promo at Sugar Run.
Barb – love this line “Our children and grandchildren will ask if we held a funeral for wisdom when it died.”
I often wonder how Maslow’s Hierarchy applies.
Liz – Was in Tunkhannock this pm. The Frack truck activity was significant, They are building a Comfort Inn on the southwest end of the bridge over the Susquehanna.
Carol – I can not imagine. I want to commend you on your stand. When you ask people to wake up – what would you hope they would then do?
Thanks to all of you for commenting!
There are alternatives to relying on soulless corporations! Transition is one way (TransitionCulture.org). Another is Common Security Clubs (http://commonsecurityclub.org/). Please watch the documentary “The End of Poverty?”. It shows how resource exploitation leads to erosion of land and communities.
There was a an article titled “Where are all the Marcellus Shale jobs?” By Bill Toland, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
the article is reposted here
http://connect.sierraclub.org/post/Team/Marcellus_Shale_Gas_Drilling/blog/where_are_all_the_marcellus_shale_jobs.html
Here is the link to the report stated in my above post
“Unanswered Questions About the Economic Impact of Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale”
Click to access Economicpaper.pdf
Dear Susan and DH, I will check out these links. I have recently run across YES magazine and am eager to learn more. I will respond in greater detail once I review these links. Thanks!
You made certain good points there. I did a search on the issue and found the majority of folks will go along with with your blog.