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The Susquehanna Valley has the most potential in eastern PA to be impacted by runoff from gas drilling. As this map shows, there is actually more drilling in northeast PA in Potter, Tioga and Bradford counties than in Western PA.
All drilling here in Tioga has been scaled back 95% from last year and companies and people shifted to Western PA. It's a relative ghost town up here this year. Also many wells already drilled are getting production suspended or are only producing 1 day a week. The reason for it is up here in the northern tier, the gas is dry gas and in western PA it's "wet" gas and oil. The wet gas is popular because they can make a variety of products from it.
A lot of the wells on that map that are shown as drilled are only sunk around a thousand feet to tie up leases as many leases expire next year and in 2014. They have not been drilled completely or are being fracked.
I don't know where this idea from "runoff" comes from. Any spills get cleaned up quickly and all of the water here gets checked regularly by the companies, state and private organizations. All waste water around here gets recycled at a plant built for the purpose. The gas companies don't just open the tap and let slurry run down the hill into the creek. I don't know who came up with that idea.
Fracking techniques are rapidly changing as bringing in and using water is a major pain and already around here they are using nitrogen and propane gels instead.
I think the bigger issue for someone looking to retire is not any pollution issues from fracking but dealing with the mineral rights side of things when it comes down to purchasing property.
All drilling here in Tioga has been scaled back 95% from last year and companies and people shifted to Western PA. It's a relative ghost town up here this year. Also many wells already drilled are getting production suspended or are only producing 1 day a week. The reason for it is up here in the northern tier, the gas is dry gas and in western PA it's "wet" gas and oil. The wet gas is popular because they can make a variety of products from it.
A lot of the wells on that map that are shown as drilled are only sunk around a thousand feet to tie up leases as many leases expire next year and in 2014. They have not been drilled completely or are being fracked.
I don't know where this idea from "runoff" comes from. Any spills get cleaned up quickly and all of the water here gets checked regularly by the companies, state and private organizations. All waste water around here gets recycled at a plant built for the purpose. The gas companies don't just open the tap and let slurry run down the hill into the creek. I don't know who came up with that idea.
Fracking techniques are rapidly changing as bringing in and using water is a major pain and already around here they are using nitrogen and propane gels instead.
I think the bigger issue for someone looking to retire is not any pollution issues from fracking but dealing with the mineral rights side of things when it comes down to purchasing property.
The OP said he was looking for the best place to retire in a small town with great fishing and clean water specifically referring to no potential run off from gas drilling. I don't know if the situation with water contamination is exagerated or not. We hear stories like this Fouled Waters: Woodlands residents search for ways to survive without clean water - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette where people's wells are supposedly contaminated. I did a search on the Pgh Post Gazette and got 2,490 hits for Marcellus Shale water contamination. Here is the search
The OP is considering a retirement home and is looking at the potential risks over the next 30 or so years. It appears that if you have well water, there is a potential risk to your water supply if you live anywhere in the Marcellus Shale region or at least any area within that region that has the potential for drilling. There have also been complaints in Washington County that some city water supplies coming from the Monongahela River have had odor and taste issues.
If you can have the flexibility to choose the best location, it just makes sense to consider all the known issues. Drilling for gas and oil in Pennsylvania is not going away.
For me, my primary retirement issue is about quality of life. I'm a very avid fisherman and I love the green rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania. I currently live in a small community with a county population of 18,000 but it seems larger because the county is also home to Yosemite National Park. The tourists aren't bad but it does up the population in town a bit.
I do have a nice parcel of land and the Merced River is designated as wild and scenic. Our place is adjacent to the Sierra National Forest and we have hundreds of miles of forest service roads to go four wheeling on.
So you must be wondering why I'd want to move to Pennsylvania. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh and my parents still live there. I was thinking about Pittsburgh but the taxes and traffic were the deal breaker. So I started thinking about rural Pa and remembered it had great streams for trout fishing.I love outdoor sports and activities and thought possibly of getting a place with around 100 acres or so and close to a small town. A town within a 2 hour drive of Pittsburgh to help my parents if needed and to visit. I started doing some googling and the water issues were everywhere. So now you have it.
For me, my primary retirement issue is about quality of life. I'm a very avid fisherman and I love the green rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania. I currently live in a small community with a county population of 18,000 but it seems larger because the county is also home to Yosemite National Park. The tourists aren't bad but it does up the population in town a bit.
I do have a nice parcel of land and the Merced River is designated as wild and scenic. Our place is adjacent to the Sierra National Forest and we have hundreds of miles of forest service roads to go four wheeling on.
So you must be wondering why I'd want to move to Pennsylvania. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh and my parents still live there. I was thinking about Pittsburgh but the taxes and traffic were the deal breaker. So I started thinking about rural Pa and remembered it had great streams for trout fishing.I love outdoor sports and activities and thought possibly of getting a place with around 100 acres or so and close to a small town. A town within a 2 hour drive of Pittsburgh to help my parents if needed and to visit. I started doing some googling and the water issues were everywhere. So now you have it.
My advice is to make sure you fully understand the issues with mineral rights.
Two hours from Pittsburgh will take you to the edge of the Marcellus Shale area at I-99 at either Bedford or the Hollidaysburg/Duncansville area.
Somerset Countyand the mountains of Fayette County are nice but are in the Marcellus Shale drilling area. There are many abandoned mines in the county, and acid mine drainage is an environmental problem in many areas. Fishless streams exist as a result of the discharge from the abandoned mines. The entire Laurel Highlands area is worth a look and is approx. 90 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh.
Try Bellefonte or the areas of Penns Valley, in Centre County. Spring Creek runs through Bellefonte, and Penns Creek and Elk Creek run through Penns Valley. Additionally, Sayers Dam, in the Bald Eagle State Park in Howard has some great fishing too. Centre County is known for great fishing, there is even an area along Spring Creek called "Fisherman's Paradise" between Bellefonte and State College. So, for small towns, I would suggest Bellefonte, Centre Hall, Spring Mills, Millheim, or Howard. I would also suggest Spruce Creek in Huntingdon County.
New Castle, Pa. Can't find the link but it's cheap and has a remodeled downtown that youngsters complain about - just look it up - there is a site that raves about it with links to many town photos and articles about retirees who love it.
I'd recommend checking out Tionesta and Tidioute, along the Allegheny River in the Allegheny National Forest. Lots of nice creeks in the area too, like Tionesta and Brokenstraw. This area was the big oil exploration area back in the day, there are still a lot of active oil wells but I don't think much volume. Not sure about gas drilling.
I second the suggestion of Franklin. If that doesn't work for you, look at Mercer or maybe Edinboro.
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I don't know who came up with that idea.
