Fracking in Maryland? (Frostburg: earthquakes, tax, living)

[Tiger Beer]

Looks like West Virginia and Pennsylvania is pretty wide-open with fracking.

Looks like Maryland is considering banning (or has banned it), but I also saw that Western Maryland either started or was seriously talking about starting it in the region.

What's your take on Fracking?

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

What's your take on Fracking?

Huh? Is there any deposit worth the startup cost?

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by goldenage1

Huh? Is there any deposit worth the startup cost?

Yes, western Allegany and Garrett Counties have substantial deposits of natural gas.

I think something similar to the coal mining regulations in Maryland should be enacted. Up-front bonding for reclamation and possible environmental damage and rules that make sure the land is returned to its original zoned use once the gas mining is done.

I also think a substantial amount of the tax money collected should go to Allegany and Garrett Counties directly, NOT funneled to the State for the magenta, aquamarine, or burnt umber metro lines.

It is likely our communities will suffer negative consequences from fracking, and few local jobs will be created. It is only worth our while if the tax money can be used to improve our local communities.

[drs72]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

Yes, western Allegany and Garrett Counties have substantial deposits of natural gas.

I think something similar to the coal mining regulations in Maryland should be enacted. Up-front bonding for reclamation and possible environmental damage and rules that make sure the land is returned to its original zoned use once the gas mining is done.

I also think a substantial amount of the tax money collected should go to Allegany and Garrett Counties directly, NOT funneled to the State for the magenta, aquamarine, or burnt umber metro lines.

It is likely our communities will suffer negative consequences from fracking, and few local jobs will be created. It is only worth our while if the tax money can be used to improve our local communities.

This. I don't support fracking. We don't know much about any adverse affects that come with it, so I'm glad we decided to wait it out and do a study. PA and Ohio were all for it and now they're having earthquakes and can light their well water on fire. West Virginia is ignoring these warnings in hopes of finding something to make up for the decline in the coal and steel industries. Since we're the ones waiting, those other states are all our test dummies. If we don't like what happens to them, we won't do it.

Growing up in Western Maryland, some of the streams were orange from acid mine drainage. Just south of Frostburg there's a huge scar of an abandoned mountaintop removal site. That's coal. Who knows what environmental damage this fracking could cause? If we allow fracking, the companies should definitely be responsible for whatever they do to our environment.

Originally Posted by westsideboy

I also think a substantial amount of the tax money collected should go to Allegany and Garrett Counties directly, NOT funneled to the State for the magenta, aquamarine, or burnt umber metro lines.

AHAHAHA! This too!

But, if it were up to me, we wouldn't even be considering it at all. There's been a strong opposition to it out here at WVU, but they keep pressing forward. I've seen numerous trucks with Louisiana plates recently.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Originally Posted by westsideboy

i also think a substantial amount of the tax money collected should go to allegany and garrett counties directly, not funneled to the state for the magenta, aquamarine, or burnt umber metro lines.
.

:d

[westsideboy]

Originally Posted by drs72

This. I don't support fracking. We don't know much about any adverse affects that come with it, so I'm glad we decided to wait it out and do a study. PA and Ohio were all for it and now they're having earthquakes and can light their well water on fire. West Virginia is ignoring these warnings in hopes of finding something to make up for the decline in the coal and steel industries. Since we're the ones waiting, those other states are all our test dummies. If we don't like what happens to them, we won't do it.

Growing up in Western Maryland, some of the streams were orange from acid mine drainage. Just south of Frostburg there's a huge scar of an abandoned mountaintop removal site. That's coal. Who knows what environmental damage this fracking could cause? If we allow fracking, the companies should definitely be responsible for whatever they do to our environment.


AHAHAHA! This too!

But, if it were up to me, we wouldn't even be considering it at all. There's been a strong opposition to it out here at WVU, but they keep pressing forward. I've seen numerous trucks with Louisiana plates recently.

Here is the problem DRS, something is powering that computer device you are typing from. It is probably a fossil fuel burning plant. If every place in the US said "NIMBY" to fossil fuel extraction, the price of electricty would skyrocket and we probably wouldn't have the power to prevent blackouts.

I think it is hypocritical to say, WE won't be part of helping the country provide enough energy to run itself, even though we can, but we would gladly use someone else's power to keep ourselves going.

If you live down the Crick, you know about surface mining, you know they have to reclaim the sites. Up here around Frostburg and Eckhart, much, if not most, of the land has already been surface mined. You can't even tell by looking at it. Now, there are cows grazing on grass, trees growing, people living on the land.

Fossil fuel extraction is dirty, but without it, would you be from Allegany County? I wouldn't. My ancestors were coal miners. No jobs, no people, no money. That is really the Allegany County equation right now. We have to break out of that cycle, or our communities will continue to die. We both have had this conversation before...that our communities are dying. An influx of money and economic activity can change that.

I want to keep living here, I want my kids to live here. That isn't going to happen unless we change the paradigm. So, take some time to figure out what the negative aspects of fracking really are, make sure the gas companies follow strict procedures to prevent accidents, use the money locally to help our povery stricken communities out. A few wells will be ruined, the streams are already shot, as you mentioned. Such is the price of cheap and constant electricity. If you want to go off the grid, be my guest. I am staying on, and not "NIMBYing" my community out of being part of the solution.