Marcellus Shale reality drilled home

A beautiful scenery of trees, open fields, family homes, and farmlands dot the winding roads of the Back Mountain—quite a contrast to the green piping, dug-up areas, muddy trucks, and construction machines lying on those open plains and blocking the streets on which people commute each day.

The safety and cost of natural gas drilling is a profound concern in the region, and some students like senior April Dulsky is concerned by the changes. "The first time it really hit me that they had started drilling was really interesting. I woke up late and could hear some machines and drilling sounds from outside but I didn't think anything of it. I got in my car and I had to wait for a line of over-sized construction trucks to pass so I could go to Misericordia. I thought there would just be one or two vehicles since it was so early, but no. Over 20 vehicles, including five dump trucks and at least three trucks hauling massive pipes passed me going 20 mph."

Residents see this each day. Some are in favor of the natural gas industry and the growth it provides to the region's economy, but others, like Dulsky, object to it.

"I don't agree with the drilling since it is ruining the area," said Dulsky. "It also has a potential of harming water supplies. A lot of people have wells and they are drilling extremely close, so I just think it's disheartening."

The drilling work is happening almost literally in Dulsky's backyard. "I don't like the drilling process because it is directly affecting my hometown. From the morning I wake up, I can hear the machines running until late afternoon. Then, the workers all commute down my road in long lines at the end of the day which make it impossible to get anywhere," she said.

The debate over whether or not to drill has not ended. "I think that they need to stop. I feel that there is not enough being done to regulate the process which will lead to more problems down the road," said Dulsky.

"They do not appear to be showing any concern for what is happening right here and what could affect us in significant ways. I would like to see petitions for higher regulations if they don't leave entirely." The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate have both approved separate gas drilling bills. According to NPR, state lawmakers are trying to update the oil and gas act to catch up with the natural gas drilling boom and that what the update would do is standardize regulations across the state.

"I think that they have already taken root to the area. A lot of the workers commute from the hotel in Tunkhannock. I don't think they are going away until something happens, or they run dry." At that point, as Dulsky pointed out, it would be way too late. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the current situation.

"A lot of people in the area actually signed for the gas drillers to come on their land, which I think is interesting. In my opinion, many people only looked at the money when they signed the release, since their land is going to be destroyed after the drilling is complete," said Dulsky.