PA Farmer: Gas drilling a Nightmare

[maryf]

Shortsighted quest for profits are devastating too many...we can live without gas, we can't live without water...nor can animals and plants...

http://www.the-leader.com/news/x1682974400/Pa-farmer-Natural-gas-drilling-a-nightmare

By Derrick Ek
Corning Leader
Posted Nov 16, 2010 @ 11:44 PM
Print Comment
Elmira, N.Y. —

Ron Gulla, a farmer from Hickory, Pa., says he had no idea what he was getting into when he leased his land for gas drilling.
“When I saw what was happening on my property, I couldn’t believe it,” Gulla said. “They totally misinformed us and misrepresented the lease.”

Over the past few years, he saw his farm – in a rural area just south of Pittsburgh – become a large industrial site over which he had no control, and had his water supply tainted by high levels of toxic chemicals, he said. Gulla – who also sells construction and forestry equipment and once spent six years working in the oil and gas industry – tried to take out a mortgage loan to finance a lawsuit against the well operator, Range Resources, but was told by the bank that his land was basically worthless because of the drilling activity there.

Gulla told gutwrenching stories of other farmers in Washington County whose property was virtually ruined by drilling. Many of their calves have been born with strange deformities, he said. Cows and horses – even dogs – have been sickened or killed from drinking the water from streams and ponds near the well pads. Folks living near compressor stations have had serious health issues from air pollution, he added.

The farmers affected in his area have received nothing in compensation, he said. more at link...

The article further discusses the groups who are concerned, and one man suggests safer alternatives (I'm dubious...)

[katnapped]

1. But but but

All those happy people on teh Range Resources commercials! You saying it's not true? :sarcasm:

[maryf]

7. short sighted capitalism...

temporary dream come true money gains become nightmares for all but the owners of the fuel companies...
no tv here so missed the commercial...not sorry there! :)

[Matariki]

24. My cousin now owns what was my grandparents farm in North PA

It's been in the family for generations and I'm very happy that he took it on. It's a medium sized dairy farm. It's been very difficult for him, he's getting by but the taxes nearly crush him every year and he always wonders if it's worth it. So of course when the gas drilling company came around wanting to lease drilling rights, he took them up on it. It wasn't greed and capitalism that drove the decision as much as it was desperation. We could really do with some better tax codes for small to mid-size farmers who are being squeezed out by Big Agro.

[lonestarnot]

2. Terrible.

[logosoco]

3. No one is interested in keeping us safe from this stuff.

Funny how that is. Seems like there are people being harmed here, and the land is being destroyed. But time and resources are being used elsewhere.
Hmmm.......

[maryf]

4. short sighted capitalism...

the quest for profit trumps the people's well being...

[w8liftinglady]

5. Sinkholes are another thing they need to be concerned about

Hell,even building inspectors warn about them here(Home of Barton's underground playground)
http://www.inspectapedia.com/vision/sinkholes.htm#TexasSinkholes

[maryf]

8. Thanks, and beside sinkholes

Earthquakes have also been mentioned as a potential problem:

one source:

http://blogs.ft.com/energy-source/2010/03/11/hydro-fracking-and-earthquakes-uh-oh/

[katnapped]

6. And just think....

Corbett isn't even in office yet! :scared:

[maryf]

9. Proof positive it doesn't matter much who's in office...

when the corporations have control...

[ieoeja]

10. In Indiana I was offered one-third the market price for a lease ... IN PERPETUITY!

I didn't get much farther than the fact that lease was forever before writing that one off. Your land has to be attached to a parcel that includes a working well for the lease to continue. But since there is no geographic limit to that parcel, they could attach it to wells in Saudi Arabia. And for the rest of your life, and the lives of your heirs, and the lives of their heirs, and the..., you could do nothing that might affect the hydrocarbon without the Energy companies permit, even if the Energy company is just sitting on it doing nothing.

This is pretty new to most folk in the midwest. Energy companies are taking advantage of their ignorance.

[maryf]

11. Seven generations?

seeing to their heirs it seems, but will their heirs be able to survive? Excellent point, thank

[bobbolink]

22. Indians believe you don't make a decision without considering how it will affect

the next 7 generations.

What were they thinking???

[maryf]

23. Yep the Iroquois in fact stated this

The fuel corporate executives are barely considering 2 generations in their short-sightedness...the contract asking for perpetuity was vile in its lack of consideration for any but the future ruling elites...

[bobbolink]

25. We lost out by not following the wisdom of those "savages"!!!!!!

Can you imagine what this country would have been like, had we followed their ways?

:cry:

[maryf]

28. We sure did

and even when we borrowed the Iroquois form of government, we neglected to include one aspect, the crones counsel, the wise women had the final say...hey fellow crone? :pals:

[bobbolink]

30. Not to mention the women owning everything except the men's clothes and tools.

:rofl:

Somehow, I don't feature Ben and Thomas appreciating that....

:pals:

[maryf]

34. I'll ask your question again...

Where would we be now if we'd followed that wisdom! Happy Thanksgiving Bobbie, I give thanks for your constant advocacy and vigilance! :hug:

[blindpig]

12. For a handful of silver they destroy our sustanence

When money is the only value then all else is valueless. Clearly this is unsustainable yet it is the ruling motive of our civilization. We can and must change this.

[maryf]

15. "We can and must change this"

Yep, Humanity is on the line ...all life is on the line...

General strike anyone?

[madmom]

13. A big corp misrepresenting (aka lying) who'd a thunk it......

“When I saw what was happening on my property, I couldn’t believe it,” Gulla said. “They totally misinformed us and misrepresented the lease.”

[maryf]

32. the ends justify the means...when it comes to a profit...

:(

[classof56]

14. Has anyone seen Gasland? Pretty disturbing.

I have relatives in PA who have leased their land for gas drilling and have been told there will be no problems. We'll have to see--not looking too positive right about now.

:(

[maryf]

16. Shame...keep us updated...

:(

[hootinholler]

17. Good thing Cheney got gas exempted fromthe clean water act

Whew, that would be something if these people had some law or other they could leverage against this envirocide.

-Hoot

[maryf]

19. Amazingly well planned ploy

truly evil too... :grr:

[hootinholler]

20. The ONLY reason that such a thing would have come out of the Energy Policy Meetings

Is that the energy companies knew they would trash the water tables, otherwise they wouldn't care.

-Hoot

[maryf]

21. no doubt...

one representative recently said "of course there will be accidents", (I'll see if I can find it...), idiots rule, again we can live without gas, we can't live without water...

[hootinholler]

26. Of course you know that watershed is the source for the Chesapeake Bay

The Susquehanna (Central Pa and Southern New York) and Potomac (Western Md, Northeastern West Va and Va) both originate in the Marcellus field to feed the Chesapeake Bay. On the other side of the Eastern Continental Divide there's the Ohio River draining the rest of the Marcellus.

Maybe someone should invent a filter that will take in the 'water' and produce potable water and fuel.

-Hoot

[maryf]

31. Yep affecting the water for 15,000,000 people potentially...

worrisome to say the least...thanks!! :fistbump:

[Starry Messenger]

18. k&r

[maryf]

33. Good morning!

double duty here! saying hi and kicking myself! :hi:

[RamboLiberal]

27. Add this: Marcellus Shale Drilling Could Impact Hunting Season

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Marcellus Shale drilling sites have been popping up all over the area in the last year and they could affect the plans of local hunters.

With more than 300 sites, Washington County has more wells than anywhere in the state. Greene County has around 200, and there are nearly 100 each in both Fayette and Westmoreland counties.

Those wells have dramatically changed the landscape of some local wooded areas. Trees and hills may no longer be there and access roads may cut through what used to be thickly-wooded areas.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is advising hunters to go check out their favorite hunting spot over the holiday weekend to make sure it hasn’t changed because of a well.

Officials with the Game Commission say that while there is no real safety issue, you may notice a change in the serenity of an area. More noise could mean less deer.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2010/11/24/marcellus-shale-drilling-could-impact-hunting-season/

Maybe the drillers better be wearing blaze orange!

[maryf]

29. At a NY state forest plan hearing, hunters were very concerned...

the sportsmen are some of our best nature defenders...and they spare many deer from starving...of course they might all die of toxic water poisoning anyway...