This article supports the group of anti-development Upstate stakeholders by discussing the effects of the natural gas drilling occurring in Pennsylvania on the countryside. The Marcellus shale is a rock formation of 95,000 square-miles that extends from West Virginia to New York. This formation contains large amounts of natural gas which can be obtained by a hydraulic fracturing process. Since the affected areas in Pennsylvania are located on the same rock formation as Upstate New York, similar conclusions can be drawn from the effects of the hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania. The natural gas drilling has caused a decrease in property values and in the beauty of the surrounding natural environment.
The Hallowich family, who own 10 acres of farmland in a drilling area of Pennsylvania have witnessed the degradation of their surrounding environment and a decrease in their property value due to the fracking in their area. The onset of drilling near their home brought “a gas processing plant, a compressor station, buried pipelines, a three-acre plastic-lined holding pond, and a gravel road with heavy truck traffic,” clearly ruining the natural surrounding landscape they once enjoyed. Along with the eyesore of industrial equipment, loud noises from the traffic and operations interrupted the Hallowich’s lives. Also, since many residents extract their drinking water from shallow pumps, there is a danger of water contamination from the fracking fluids. While these fluids are usually contained, “at least 130 cases documented since 2008 by the DEP, drilling waste-water has spilled into creeks and tributaries due to holding pond overflows, pump failures, and other errors,” proving that there is a chance for dangerous fluids to enter nearby waterways and contaminate resident drinking water pumps. The Hallowich family also complained about a bad smell and dangerous gasses coming to their house through the air and causing burning throats and eyes. All of these disturbances have lowered the property value of their land, with a real estate agent pricing it at $200,000, though the Hallowichs are looking to sell for $500,000.
The problems faces by residents in Pennsylvania on the same Marcellus shale formation can be viewed as a cautionary tale to what could happen to residents of Upstate New York. For these reasons natural gas hydraulic fracking should not be developed in Upstate New York. The industrial compounds will ruin the beauty of the surrounding nature by taking up a lot of space and introducing new roads with high traffic. The danger of the fluids polluting the air and waterways is also an issue which would contribute to the decrease in property value and would have a very adverse effect on property owners in the area.
Works Cited:
Lavelle, Marianne. “A Dream Dashed by the Rush on Gas.” National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 17 Oct. 2010. Web. 02 Dec. 2012. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/10/101022-energy-marcellus-shale-gas-environment/>.
