Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Mon, Mar 26, 2012

The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading:

Midlands Voices: Fracking brings many energy benefits
The Papillion Times
Criticism from environmentalists notwithstanding, hydraulic fracturing is safely unlocking vast quantities of natural gas in deep shale formations across the country that had been considered out of reach. Nebraskans will benefit from this abundant energy source for decades to come.

Drilling activity: The county needs to act soon on the state law
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pennsylvania’s new law regulating the Marcellus Shale gas industry has sent Allegheny County Councilman Michael Finnerty back to the drawing board on his proposal that called for bigger buffer zones around drilling platforms and compressor stations.

Experts: Drilling Not Harmful to Health
Wheeling News
Drilling and fracking the Marcellus Shale over the past few years has not led to any adverse health impacts for local residents to date, environmental and public health experts agree.

RV Park Set in Morristown; Chesapeake Office Gets Fast Start
Wheeling News
When the mass exodus of people into Belmont County from Texas, Oklahoma and other far-off places began several months ago, they encountered one perplexing problem – finding a rental home, a place to park a recreational vehicle or even a camper.

Mineral rights researchers boost local economy
Coshocton Tribune
For the past month, Lisa Hastings has spent her days researching mineral titles and property deeds in the Coshocton County Recorder’s Office in search of any mineral rights that might be available at the Utica Shale depth.

Fair deal
The Columbus Dispatch
Who would pass up the chance to give all Ohioans, especially those nurturing small businesses, an income-tax break, paid for by a modest and very predictable tax on an industry that stands to reap fortunes harvesting the state’s natural resources?

Fracking helps boost Balchem Corp.
Times Herald-Record
About 16 percent of Balchem’s total revenue in 2011, about $40 million, came from selling clay stabilizers used in fracking.

ITT Students, Grads Optimistic About Shale Industry
WYFX-TV Youngstown
The Valley was once part of a booming rust belt, but since the steel mills started to close in the late 1970s, younger people have had to leave this area in search of jobs.

Ergon, Inc. Announces Expansion in the Appalachian Region
Business Wire
The expansion will enable Ergon companies to handle increased liquid production as drilling increases throughout the Marcellus and Utica Shale areas.

One Comment