Marcellus Shale and NIMBY

Since much of my income last year was derived from the Marcellus Shale and the companies who are working it I have found some interesting commentary and would like to share. First, to understand the issues I educated myself on the drilling and the follow up procedures to actually producing the gas. Second, as a vendor I talk with many of the players and visit the drill sites and third I read the news reports and commentary.
Many of the news articles are reiterations of other articles and talking points from the people who are against drilling of any kind and they use the same terms and the same disputed information and the same scare tactics about contaminated water wells, inflammable water, damaged roads etc. To be clear, there is some potential for water contamination in the water table during drilling. However, drillers are very aware of that and as soon as they drill below the water table, they stop, case the well in steel pipe and cement this pipe to the formation previously drilled through. This is done so that subsequent drilling CANNOT expose the groundwater to drilling chemicals or fracking fluids. Watch the video here http://www.api.org/policy/exploration/hydraulicfracturing/hydraulicfracturing.cfm
Since many of the news articles give the same information, it is apparent to me that they haven't taken the time to understand the process and the people who are the most vocal are NOT the people who own the mineral rights to the gas. As for the road damage these guys don't want to pay for a $150,000 truck over the hill or the wrecker to pull it out. Most of the roads they travel on end up being better when they are done because they up grade the road as the go. Nothing is without risk and if we ever want to see independence from foreign oil we have to exploit this resource. We can and will do it safely and provide energy to many future generations.