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Preview: Gas Drilling & "Shaleionaires"

July 7, 2011 1:00 AM

While some complain that extracting natural gas from shale rock is tainting their water supply, others who have allowed drilling on their property are getting wealthy and becoming "shaleionaires." Lesley Stahl reports, Sunday, July 10, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

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by JTA4784 July 12, 2011 8:47 PM EDT
I am outraged. The corrupt and greedy will never cease destroying the earth and its inhabitants until forced to do so by our federal government. And we all bear responsibility to reduce our energy consumption. If you aren't speaking up, you imply consent to this madness.
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by suesul July 10, 2011 8:47 PM EDT
Perhaps you would like to check into the dispute between Aubrey McClendon and his neighbors in Michigan where he is seeking to destroy a delicate ecosystem and make himself even more wealthy. He is, at least, consistent. This is a repeat broadcast: it is shallow and out of date. Much has happened since you first aired it. NYDEC has determined that the fracking process is too dangerous for the NYC and Syracuse watersheds, but is OK for the rest of the folks in New York State, even within the Delaware River Watershed. The New York Times has exposed the gas industry for lying to the public and their shareholders. There is possible government collusion in creating a "gold rush" otherwise known as a "bubble" Get your act together..this is not about the Beverly Hillbillies.
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by hew4608 July 10, 2011 8:16 PM EDT
I am a City Council Member in Hurst Texas, and have been dealing with Chesapeake for over a year. North Texas sits on one of the largest Natural Gas deposites in the US, the Barnett Shale. The City of Hurst drafted a very tough ordinance that adresses one of our primary concerns, safety. We require testing of water, air and soil prior to drilling, then as we go into production, we have a basis to compare later tests to. Chesapeake, in your 60 minutes episode said they welcome stricter standards, yet they are fighting us on the testing we require. If the potential is millions of dollars, then why would they fight spending $30,000 to ensure our air, water and soil remain safe. The CEO of Chesapeake seems to be giving 60 minutes a sound bite, and apparently does not live by his comments.

Henry Wilson,
Council Member
City of Hurst
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by joyceforbes July 10, 2011 8:11 PM EDT
re: fracking-I understand that these oil and gas companies pay rental to land owners in order to drill. I also understand that these companies drill down deep and then angle the drill bit. What happens to the people that live over where the drill is actually fracking if their property or water source is damaged? Does the gas company rent all the property in the path of the planned drilling? I think not. Boy, are all of us in big trouble for the next several years. Thanks for producing a great show, one which keeps me informed and current! Joyce Forbes
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by FRACKED July 10, 2011 8:08 PM EDT
My mother's family are currently trying to wrapped their heads around the offers pouring in to them in Beaver County - Western PA. Currently, the only company offering leasing agreements is Chesapeake. There are so many questions that my mother and her siblings would like answered, but Chesapeake is frightening the residents with warnings NOT to speak with any other gas surveyors and to sign the documents or they will be left out! They are offering group leases and keeping everyone on top of who is signed (the number of people and acreage) constantly - yet no one is getting their questions answered. Now, this is a economically DEPRESSED area in Western PA, and as predicted, most people are jumping on the chance to earn any amount of money - and this gas company is well aware! Does anyone know anything about Chesapeake? I already know none of these gas company's have residents "best interests" in mind! It depresses me and portions of my family to know that if they don't sign, their land and water will be damaged anyway.
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by TomRJanowski July 10, 2011 7:59 PM EDT
Journal of Environmental Quality - Abstract


In June 2008, 303,000 L of hydrofracturing fluid from a natural gas well were applied to a 0.20-ha area of mixed hardwood forest on the Fernow Experimental Forest, West Virginia. During application, severe damage and mortality of ground vegetation was observed, followed about 10 d later by premature leaf drop by the overstory trees. Two years after fluid application, 56% of the trees within the fluid application area were dead. ***** grandifolia Ehrh. was the tree species with the highest mortality, and Acer rubrum L. was the least affected, although all tree species present on the site showed damage symptoms and mortality. Surface soils (0-10 cm) were sampled in July and October 2008, June and October 2009, and May 2010 on the fluid application area and an adjacent reference area to evaluate the effects of the hydrofracturing fluid on soil chemistry and to attempt to identify the main chemical constituents of the hydrofracturing fluid. Surface soil concentrations of sodium and chloride increased 50-fold as a result of the land application of hydrofracturing fluids and declined over time. Soil acidity in the fluid application area declined with time, perhaps from altered organic matter cycling. This case study identifies the need for further research to help understand the nature and the environmental impacts of hydrofracturing fluids to devise optimal, safe disposal strategies.
https://www.agronomy.org/publications/jeq/abstracts/40/4/1340
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by TomRJanowski July 10, 2011 7:55 PM EDT
Here in NY, the official word is that fracking can be safe. I would like to know their definition of the word SAFE. I would also like to know why there is any worry and therefore fracking not allowed in the NYC watershed area? If it is safe, why not frack there as well?

And how can the process of injecting hundreds of thousands gallons of water with toxic chemicals into the ground-and not being able to recover 100% of that water safe? If you leave any toxic chemicals in the ground it is NOT SAFE.
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by TomRJanowski July 10, 2011 7:49 PM EDT
TO my NY friends and neighbors....please hope for the best--that fracking NEVER occurs--but prepare for the worst--that fracking does happen. Here are some things to do to prepare to stop fracking before or after it starts.

_1. Start having your well water tested now. Hire a reputable company. Have the company come to you and take the water sample. Have the company maintain records of the results. Test every 3 to 6 months to establish a baseline of your current water quality. Then if fracking takes place in your area and your water changes, you'll have great evidence for a lawsuit to stop fracking!

_2. Network with others in nearby towns to see if your towns will ban fracking within a mile or so of the town line. If enough nearby towns do this, the overlap could greatly limit where gas companies can drill.

_3. Take pictures. Follow gas company tankers and other vehicles while on public roads. Take pictures if you see anything unusual or illegal--such as a tanker leaking fluid. With a telephoto lens, watch from public land what happens at the private drilling sites. Photograph and report anything that looks dangerous.

http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=1498
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by jhg63 July 10, 2011 7:36 PM EDT
Another thing that could have been reported is that gas drilling around Greenbrier, Arkansas was halted due to a suspected link between daily earthquakes and fracking.
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by maiingan July 10, 2011 7:25 PM EDT
CBS employees need to get their geology glossary straight before going on camera and looking ignorant. Shale is not a "rock formation." Shale is a type of rock.
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