Postcards from a REAL Gasland

There's been so much discussion about Josh Fox's so-called documentary "Gasland" this week, mostly due to the fact that he managed to sell HBO a bill of goods on its authenticity. (Did anyone else notice that in his video the flames he lit in sinks seemed to travel from the basin to the faucet instead of from the faucet down.....?)

Anyway, I was thinking about Fox and his fairy tale while watching Shrek Forever After in a nice cool theatre with my kids the other day when I realized, with Shrek being the ultimate anti-fairy tale and all , maybe I could craft something of an alternative tale for the Gasland believing crowd.

Every one's heard the basics on the Marcellus -- great opportunity for energy independence, great jobs, etc, etc. All true. But lets talk about natural gas in the world we live in -- not only Marcellus wells, but all natural gas in Pennsylvania.

Fox calls Northeast PA "Gasland" in his film. But in truth, the Marcellus is the first real experience people in that area of the state have had with natural gas and drilling. Its no wonder they don't get it for the most part. Not over here in the Western part of PA. In fact, let's focus on one particular area -- that surrounding Armstrong and Indiana Counties. Talk about gasland.

For years, before the Marcellus ever became a feasible drilling reality, rural families in this area have relied on more conventional and more shallow wells to care for their families and hold on to their lands. I dare you to drive even one mile out in the area and not spot at least 10 wells. And yet, they are not even close to the blight on the landscape most would have you believe. You might miss them, even if you're looking.

You don't hear screams and rants about drinking water -- even though fracing has been used here -- at depths much closer to the water table than used in Marcellus wells -- for years.

People here know the value of their royalties and the economic benefit of an active gas industry in their relatively depressed communities is a true blessing. You should see them -- lining up to work with the well services companies that line the highway between Kittanning/Ford City and Indiana. Good paying jobs with Halliburton, Appalachian and Universal as they expand to serve drillers are more than people here could have hoped for. All of those companies by the way engage in completions, a process that includes hydraulic fracturing. People who want high paying jobs know it, and they aren't worried.

Just last week, in Ford City, which is relatively residential for these parts, a major driller "completed" some Marcellus wells. Hear anything about that on the news? Nope. Happened quietly and without incident. People here aren't scared by the Josh Foxes of the world -- they've been through this before, and hope they'll get a chance at the Marcellus royalties themselves.

People here, as you can see in these accompanying photos, live among gas wells and operations, just as they did before even these more conventional wells were put in. They FARM right around them. Their animals GRAZE right up to them. Few if any problems, little if any water contamination. That's the test of time people in other places keep asking for. People get it in Armstrong and Indiana Counties.

In fact, the Armstrong/Indiana County area is know for some interesting things anti-drilling people probably would marvel at. Bird watching among them, for everyone who has been scared into thinking gas drilling causes birds to abandon their habitats. Come see them perch on well tending equipment. Birds you can't see anywhere else.

Don't forget bear, deer, and small game hunting. People flock here for wildlife. Then there are the summer campers -- the banks of the Allegheny in this area, where well drilling (particularly shallow well drilling) is so prominent, teem with summer sun bathers, boaters and partiers. No one here is worried about TDS. We have conservation lakes, beautiful woods, amazing water falls. Talk about getting back to nature. People here have to drive miles to restaurants, malls and shopping - because its just not here. Others drive here to visit the all natural Amish. And yet the wells continue to come.

Marcellus wells have been drilled here, too. Check out the picture here that shows well tending equipment. The foreground, which looks like a lovely farm field in spring bloom was indeed a large fresh water frac pit just months ago.

Gasland isn't the place that bears the short term "scars" of trucks, rigs and disturbed earth. Its a place where farmers hold onto paradise and practice their craft while collecting royalty checks that allow them to exist. Think of that next time you stop at a farmers market. In some cases, gas wells allow those fresh goods to be available to you locally. Think about the hunters and birders who come here for recreation. Or the throngs who boat in the water here, skiing, swimming, tubing -- have you ever visited a river camp? Do you own one? You might want to thank some gas drillers for the fun you've had. Enjoy Amish furniture and country drives to places like Smicksburg? You again might want to thank some gas drillers. (see top pic of Amish man putting up his hay next to a well.)

Come visit, Josh. You may not have gotten what you thought you should have gotten from the gas drillers, but many others have, and have been collecting for many years. Oh. I forgot. The drillers took care of you after all, via your HBO fairy tale payout.

(all photos taken by author)