14 DAY TRIAL // Natural gas drilling is a risky business, for those behind it, for the environment as well as for the rest of the inhabitants. The people whose drinking water comes out of a source located nearby a drilling site are worried about how this activity might end up affecting their wellbeing.
The authorities have also expressed their concern regarding this matter. In fact, the state Department of Environmental Conservation hosted the first meeting meant to establish an effective secure framework for the gas drilling operations in the Marcellus Shale, according to BuffaloNews.com. The entire process relies on the fracturing or “fracking” technique, a highly controversial method associated with earthquakes in some cases.
There are two sides of every story: stakeholders who want to protect their business on one side, and most of the population supported by eco-groups on the other side, stating that their activity is actively poisoning them.
Approximately 850 people planned to attack the project and protested before the session even started. Supporters of the drilling plan say it is an essential factor that will imply the creation of much-needed 6,000 to 24,000 direct jobs and many more indirect ones, boosting the unstable economy.
At the same time, representatives from local communities state that trucks and pipes will contribute to the environmental degradation, counting as a major source of pollution, wiping off the natural charm of rural regions for good.
Water would be blended with strong chemicals in order to fragment rocks and liberate precious gas. Local people fear that if the situation gets out of control and the chemicals are released in the area, such an event would lead to an emerging disaster, putting their heath at great risk.
According to a study, it appears that gas drilling might have a significant impact upon air quality. These actions might bring more people to the site, but they wouldn't count as tourists.
After the operations see green light, 9 million trips could be made every year, growing in an alarming manner within 10 years, when the number of visitors is expected to reach 90 million a year.
A significant number, if we correlate it with greenhouse gas and air pollution and furthermore, with asthma and cancer.
The authorities able to draw out decisions still have plenty of time to reach a verdict. In this case, the promise of stable, long-term jobs leading to a prosper economy will have to compete with the needs and the demands of the worried population.
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