Linky...
I haven’t ever sided with any industry over another - or claimed any problems were widespread.
The local reaction to the influx of drillers has been a mixed bag.
Of course everyone likes economic growth and an expanding tax base.
At first people were mad about the roads getting torn up, but the companies did a good job repairing them.
The increase in crime has been the major complaint. Local county jails are overflowing, and the cost for that has skyrocketed.
It appears some of these companies are not vigilant about the illegal immigrant status of some of their employees.
Extreme traffic in small towns where their streets and roads cannot accommodate it was a main complaint in areas like Wellsboro and Towanda.
We had a well blowout in LeRoy PA. and subsequent well testing indicates last year’s rains helped resolve that problem.
The situation in Dimock probably is what most people point to as a reason for their distrust.
There is an impression that - if your well goes bad - the company will say...you can’t prove it’s our fault. We came to your area because methane was already here.
And so people are worried if they are one of the unlucky ones, they will get strong armed this way, and be stuck with a worthless piece of property. Who will buy a house when you can’t use the water?
Maybe if the companies worked a little harder on compensating some of these people that would help their PR problem.
Maybe if the companies worked a little harder on compensating some of these people that would help their PR problem.
Possibly. But the communist/EPA/anti-American business assault would continue so I'm not sure it would help a whole lot.