Fracking potential in Pike County

A small article in the last issue of the Courier about families affected by an environmental accident that occurred in McKean County should open eyes in Pike County. The article calls to attention an accident that made contaminated water supplies to seven homes. All but two have been remedied (two families living in a motel). With the amount of drilling going on in Marcellus Shale in the area, more accidents will inevitably occur. I say that not because I believe firms intend to harm but because accidents inevitably happen anytime people are involved. This firm was slow to respond to violations. In general companies have refused to reveal the composition of their fracking solutions, claiming trade secrets. When an accident occurs, I want local and state units to be able to instantly respond and to know exactly what has been leaked into the area. Without being to act not quickly but immediately people within the area may have their property, their land, this beautiful area contaminated beyond remedy. I recently wrote to our state legislators asking them to introduce legislation requiring drilling firms to specify what was in their fracking solvent so that when an accident occurs, an area can be treated quickly knowing exactly what has been leaked. I don’t believe that it is enough to require a local employee to reveal it after an accident. They won’t know what is in it and will go up the chain of command before it may be ordered revealed. In the mean time, irreparable damage may be caused. The response I received? None from one official and being put on the mailing list of the other. I know it is impossible to slow progress in this matter but greater safety precautions need to be placed in effect before we start reading of incidents close to home that affect many of us like those two families in the motel. Jeff Altman Milford