[Usrname]

I've been looking around various UP maps and see that there're several industrialized centers like Marquette, Escanaba, etc.
At the same time, I find info on things like proposed refinery (or even multiple) in Gwinn, and existing
pipeline South, past spill in Hiawatha National Forest. Then there's some past/present mining.

Underneath most of the UP, there seems to be gas shale basin and there're some (few for now) wells. There's current fracking boom in many places outside UP and I've seen info that most UP officials support fracking.

Do you think fracking will happen in the UP? If yes, where it'd likely happen and where not, are there counties that would not welcome it?

In general, are there very clean areas/counties, where one doesn't need to worry about water (or air) quality, now or going by proposed development (mining, refineries, biomass plants, etc)?

I'd seek rural property out-of-town (the further away the better), if I move, so I can be away from stuff like refineries, but with fracking, they can come to you wherever you are, or, a spill can pollute water sources in the whole are. Looking for a clean county/area with focus on recreation, tourism as opposed to industrial/gas development...if such exists.

[Usrname]

I found some info on fracking: in MI, counties or townships have no control over this, only the State/DEQ, which issues drilling permits. Township can issue some ordinance, like noise or environmental health, but most townships wouldn't have financial resources to enforce them against drilling companies, as this requires very expensive legal action. So, it really doesn't matter what the county plans are. Then, there's compulsory pooling of mineral rights. Seems like the safest bet is to be out of the shale basin (NW UP isn't on it).