Well it’s true that despite the jobs and economic boom you get from energy development, you can’t trust an oil/gas company executive as far as you can throw em.
I’m in the “trust but verify” group myself, especially with water quality.
Moratoriums to placate the sierra club is just bad policy and sends the wrong message though.
We don’t need more study, we need transparent oversight.
So we’re not so far apart on this issue :)
We have found here that even the “green groups” fade away once the gas companies hold “meetings” with them. Money is their language and the main concern of the special interest groups and pollys. But the pollys want continuing - ahem - benefits.
It’s the local landowners here who have worked hard for transparency, so far we aren’t getting any at all. Just hopey changey crap.
My main concern will always be the water. Our landscape can recover...over time.....but the water probably wouldn’t ever once it is polluted so far below ground. Almost all of our large parcel owners, and all of our rural land owners use drilled wells. There is no other source of water available to them.
The powers that be KNOW what is in the frack fluid, and they know it is absolutely toxic. My understanding is that the gas companies have other options, but this is the cheapest, so they don’t want to give up on it.
My property is junk - it’s soggy and covered with thick scrub with huge thorns. But it is private, covered with beautiful wildflowers and wild apple too, and stunning views. Great hunting there also. It is not something I ever plan to build on, and most of the acreage surrounding me is vacant, plus I’m backed by a huge parcel of state land. In other words, I wouldn’t lose a lot of the value in my acreage if it is fracked, cause it’s rather poor for building on.
If the state leases that parcel behind mine to be fracked, I can be COMPELLED to allow drilling under my parcel. They passed some kind of law. So, you see, they are going to allow it - once the right “agreement” is reached. It’s all in place.
I suspect and fear that they are working out the “eminent domain” angles.