Drillbits

Fire on the Mountain - Lightnin' in the Air

In what must be the most irresponsible writing (I'll refrain from calling it journalism) that I've ever seen, Tom Wilbur, of Binghamton, NY's Press and Sun Bulletin shows an absolute disregard for his professional reputation and that of his paper in last Sunday's article, Drilling carries a hefty environmental price.

His preference for an apocalyptic rather than informational account of the development of the Marcellus shale will leave some landowners shaking in their boots at the prospect of leasing their property to Beelzebub. Others, having surpassed Mr. Wilbur by attaining the intelligence level of a ten year old, will take some time to learn about the subject from neighbors, internet pages and forums; go to a landowner meeting or two; visit a few completed sites and steer clear of the following propaganda:

"For local property owners giddy about the prospects of their own lucrative land deals, it has been a sobering vision to see heavy equipment diverting stream beds and bright red diesel fuel flowing through ditches."

"Spectacular explosions at gas-drilling sites, shooting churning orange and black fireballs into the air and leaving columns of soot visible for miles, are not unheard of. "

"The noise of heavy equipment pounding the earth, clouds of dust settling over their house and swimming pool, and loss of control of their property are too much, Bonnie said. Town officials seem to be helpless in controlling booming noises coming from the site day and night. After a string of sleepless nights, Beagel complained to the operators, she said, and was told this: 'I know your neighbors aren't happy with us, ma'am. One came out of the woods at 2 o'clock last night swearing. But my orders are to keep this operation going'."

Full Story at http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080608/NEWS01/806080359/1001/ARCHIVE