Good post. The whole fracking issue has been mis-handled in this state and the political donations to Republicans are a prime reason why.Republicans answer to one thing...money. One of the most egregious things about the recently passed Act permitting fracking is how the legislature completely removed local authorities from the equation. Local authority to regulate has been totally usurped by the state thanks to Republicans, who used to be in favor of less Federal and State government and more local control. One more example of Republican hypocrisy. But people will continue to vote for them...and against their own economic and environmental interests.

all reps should who favor fracking,should be forced to drink only water drawn from wells adjacent to fracking operations..their families too.

I too wonder how the less big government control party has usurped local authority over this.What is amazing is Springfield Delaware county fought billboards citing environmental concerns..state constitution,right to clean air and water,yet denying billboards stifles jobs and the economy.. Springfield a GOP hot bed..guess the anti regulations sound good as long as they don't afffect us..hypocricy..to the max.

Jobs increasing in Pa?..what about the commercials run by conservative AFP saying the private sector is NOT doing fine..which is it?

Prohibit domestic exploration and u endanger our health & national security. Drilling prohibitions turn our economy over to Midlle East nations and the Chinese who buy our debt. Energy Independence equals Independence.

Today, Scranton cut the pay of over 400 city employees pay down to the minimum wage (illegally); Harrisburg is bankrupt and schools are closing across the state... All this while Governor Corbett refuses to impose a general extraction tax on gas drillers... Welcome to Fracksylvania!

typical republican politiians with their hands out.

Walter does a nice job of laying out the facts in this piece. Those of us that have family living in the parts of the state that are experiencing the threats of having their property condemned and eminent domain, water that was potable until the tracking started and now have to have water hauled in because they can no longer use the fresh water wells on the property they purchased know the issues and horrible impact that this business (with no oversight) and no regulation is having on the citizens of Pennsylvania and has had on the citizens of other states.

Private business that raise animals for human consumption are seeing their animals loosing hair. Farmers that have experiences chemical filled water due to accidents running into their fields where they are growing vegetables for human consumption. Families that are experiencing illnesses and constant head aches.

Now the GOPer's are creating legislation to remove the rights our local level of governments, so these billion dollar companies can drill where they want and run pipelines where they want. The people of our communities will loose all control over what, how, and where this business has access. If they want to run a pipe line through your private property they will be able to do it. If they want to drill near a school done. If they want to erect something that is taller than what the township permits, done.

The Haliburton loophole. Very detrimental to Americans Safety and Security.

Tom Bartman, This is about the health, welfare, safety, and security of our communities. It should have absolutely nothing to do with party politics. You really should be looking into the facts and history of this business for that darling little girl you have in your profile picture. Think about her and her health and future.

We have learned something about pollution in our country's history and it's impact on Americans lives. We have cleaned up many rivers lakes and bays. Those who are grateful for the ability to fish in cleaned up streams, rivers, and lakes know very our history very well.

Fracking is using our limited water sources. It is a business that is secretive as they do not provide all chemicals used and those that they have provided include known carcinogens.

Hi Tom and Earnest, These are the facts I'm stuck on:

FACT 1: According to the Environmental Working Group, “Water utilities spend 19 times more on water treatment chemicals every year than the federal government invests in protecting lakes and rivers from pollution in the first place.”

FACT 2: Once water is removed from the watershed for fracking (and AquaPA is about to start pulling 3 million gallons A DAY from the Susquehanna) it cannot be safely returned. It is lost forever. "Recycling" really refers to re-use for another frack.

FACT 3: The best triple cement well-bore seals, which are meant to protect our water supply from drilling chemicals, methane migration and naturally occurring flowback, will start to deteriorate and fail in 70-100 years. That's according to the industry estimates. They will ALL need to be replugged. Just as acid mine drainage has polluted our waterways, these leaking seals will poison our water tables.

FACT 4: According to PA DEP, 6.2% of these seals fail immediately. That number is unacceptably high.

FACT 5: Burning natural gas is cleaner than coal or oil, but producing and processing is more greenhouse gas intensive.

FACT 6: Perhaps the scariest fact of all... Most Republican lawmakers don't believe Global Warming is real.

So, if you only ask a politician one question, maybe find out if they subscribe to the science of Climate Change. Their reactions are something to behold!

If you make a claim here about harm from fracking, the only way you'll have any credibility is to cite specific examples or case studies that include all the details.. Otherwise, youi're merely relaying hearsay. The gullible tend to swallow hearsay but the rest of us view this seriously enough to demand evidence. You want to charge someone with murder, produce a body.

The burden of proof should be on the industry to prove their extraction methods are safe. The fact that an amendment was added to the budget bill that precludes part of the state from drilling (Rep. Sponsor) says to me there are real concerns.

You can also learn more about the impacts of gas extraction on Pennsylvanians in "Fractured Lives" Detritus of Pennsylvania's Shale Gas Boom by Edward Humes
http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/201207/pennsylvania-fracking-shale-gas-199.aspx

Those who believes that politicians in the U.S. serve the people's interest before the interest of the big business that paid to get them elected, are kidding themselves. It's always about the money, not what is best for America. Until voters wake up and fix the situation, it will only get worse. Will fracking hurt people? I don't know. But someone has paid to assure that it does not matter.

Take a few moments and listen to "A Master Of Bribes And Influence Peddling"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwhk3UjAAkQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Ask yourself who has better regulation PA/America or OPEC Nations? I for one am tired of blood for oil so whatever gets us off of foreign dependency I am all for. Not too mention when we switch to natural gas to power industry and eventually cars and fleet vehicles it will be better for the environment. The drilling occurs below the water table so gravity will work on that aspect we just have to make sure the water being used in the fracking isn't dumped out like it was under Gov. Rendell and the current administration has taken steps to ensure proper treatment and disposal.

Bottom line our envir friends will not be satisfied till we are back in the stoneage. Sure who wants pollution- dem or rep- but you have to crack an egg to make an omelet. Dems just prefer its done in someone elses backyard.

Tony C-
You mention responsible drilling and the money hungry Republicans. Can you please explain why the off shore drilling was shut down by the Obama admin in the US but we paid out money to aid Brazil in their DEEP SEA drilling the following week? Let's stop the democrat vs republican concept. If you are true to the cause then be honest and speak out about every instance instead of just those thst further your political career.

Smyrna-X, I wish you had an actual name because i feel like I'm talking to an industry shill, I embrace a simpler, non-consumerist lifestyle. I believe in Conservation, first and foremost. Do you realize the US wastes over 50% of the energy we produce due to outdated, inefficient electrical grids? That's before the power even reaches consumers, who could also do much more to conserve. Beyond that, yes, I do believe that renewable energy is a far more sustainable path, and we are lagging behind other countries. Are you aware that Saudi Arabia just invested $200 BILLION in solar energy? That ought to tell us something.

I don't want to see pollution from extreme fossil fuel extraction in anyone's backyard. And if you've ever actually seen a shale gas rig in operation, you wouldn't want one in your backyard, either.

Tony C-
I realize the differences between the two issues but was pointing out a broader issue that you did not comment on. You need to be consistent in order to have any credibility. FYI - the ban was reinstituted several months later and no permits were allowed. The only reason it was resolved was because there was an industry lawsuit brought upon the US Interior Sec'y TWICE and they were forced to comply? Please show us you are geniune and stop the "drill baby drill" insults.