Shaleshock Confronts Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale
The Marcellus Shale is us – or right under us, anyway. The Town of Ulysses is close to the northern edge of the geological formation. For that reason, natural gas drilling companies are coming to Ulysses, signing up landowners to lease the rights to drill for gas on their properties.
There are concerns about the impact this activity will have upon groundwater quality in the Town of Ulysses. Drilling for natural gas involves hydraulic fracturing, frequently referred to simply as “fracking”, in order to get a well started. Fracking requires the use of large amounts of fresh water, usually taken from local sources. Much of that water, contaminated by toxic chemicals, remains in the ground. The rest has to be recaptured and then disposed of as industrial waste.
Residents of Ulysses naturally have many questions about how these, and other heavy-impact aspects of natural gas drilling on their neighbors’ lands, will affect their lives. Tompkins Weekly has a good introductory article on the issue this week.
Shaleshock offers Drilling 101 for additional information.
Back to Democracy also offers a number of resources on drilling for natural gas.
Trouble with some of the opposition to this is that it’s downright libertarian, NIMBY (Not In My Backyard), local rule above the Constitution nonsense promoted by organizations looking to increase their influence.