Shale Boom: Economic impact

"We had our attorneys develop a lease that we felt we could be comfortable with, that would approach and address some of the issues that potentially could be harmful to the environment and that's where we started," Rea said.

That lease has become a national model that presses gas companies to do better than the state of Ohio's regulations.

For example, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources gas companies can drill at least 200 feet away from a residence. Under ALOV's agreement, it's 500 feet.

Rea says, "That simply comes because you do have a number of people who are willing to sign a lease at the same time. Strength in numbers certainly benefits us."

The agreement also holds the company responsible for damages to the water supply.

That it will bear the burden of restoring water quality and quantity to its pre-existing condition. And it will provide potable water during that restoration process.

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Commissioners call for tighter state regulations on fracking

The Athens News

With regard to baseline water testing, the resolution identifies a need for this in county water supplies prior to the initiation of fracking operations. The resolution calls for testing for organic and inorganic chemicals involved in the fracking process.

http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-36114-commissioners-call-for-tighter-state-regulations-on-fracking.html

WOUB To Air Live Call-In Show On Fracking

In recent months, debates have raged about how fracking could impact the region.

Hydraulic fracturing (known as fracking) is a water-intensive industrial process that drillers use to collect the natural gas held in shale formations and it’s the topic of “Newswatch In-Depth: Fracking Frenzy” airing Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m.

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From Gung-Ho to Uh-Oh: Charting the Government’s Moves on Fracking

Fracking has only recently become a household word, but government involvement with the drilling technique goes back decades. President Obama haschampioned the potential of natural gas drilling combined with more regulation. While there has been mounting evidence of water contamination, few regulations have been implemented. The graphic below traces officials' moves -- and levels of caution -- over time.

Follow the link to follow the chart: http://www.propublica.org/special/from-gung-ho-to-uh-oh-charting-the-governments-moves-on-fracking

Salazar hints at fracking disclosure

CLEVELAND, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- A lack of transparency over the chemical makeup of hydraulic fracturing fluid might strike a blow to the shale gas industry, the U.S. interior secretary said.

The United States has some of the richest deposits of shale natural gas. Critics say that chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, fluid could contaminate waters supplies.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the department was preparing rules that would require companies to disclose the composition of fracking fluids and call for tighter regulations to protect the environment.

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Ohio Residents Share Feelings On Fracking

Columbus, Ohio - Several Ohio families gathered in Columbus Tuesday with Valentines in hand to discuss how much they dislike fracking, reported ONN's Stephanie Mennecke. 

"We have to say what is in our heart. We are unable to sleep at night because these injection wells are close to our lands," Erin Renee Ripple of Amesville said.

Athens resident Sarah Conley said that she is worried the livelihood of local farmers will be jeopardized.

"They can stay on their farms and grow us good food rather than them having to sell their property because their land is being polluted because of the fracking practices. It's scary to us," Conley said.

The two families have been making Valentine's Day cards for Gov. John Kasich that said how much they love their land and water, and that they're against injection wells and fracking. 

"We are here to deliver valentines to governor Kasich on Valentine's Day.  We are bringing our love from our farm land really," Amesville resident Karen Carlson said.

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Ohio Officials Growing Wary Of Fracking Waste

Ohio Gov­er­nor John Kasich is a big sup­porter of nat­ural gas drilling, but that doesn’t mean he wants Pennsylvania’s frack­ing waste. As this Bloomberg News arti­cle reports, the Buck­eye State took in 369 mil­lion gal­lons of used frack­ing fluid last year.

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