Frack Fact No. 1: If you live 3/5 of a mile from a drilling pad, you better post a sign on the entrance to your house: “Danger No Smoking Flammable Gas.” An exaggeration? Of course, but with a point.

For the first time a scientific study has linked hydraulic fracking with methane leakage into private houses. The research was preformed by scientists at Duke University and published last year in a peer review journal.

The investigators tested 68 water wells in northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New York State. Water samples taken within a 3/5 of a mile radius from a fracking pad contained methane that was an average of 17 times the levels detected in wells farther from the drilling pad. The U.S. Department of Interior cited this as a situation that required urgent “hazard mitigation”.

Of greater concern is the fact the sudden methane increases in well water indicate a connection between fracking and well water contaminated with fracking chemicals. Federal researchers are now investigating whether this connection could be faults in rock layers thousands of feet below ground.

Frack Fact No. 2: Sometimes a few drops is a few too many. Benzene is a frightfully potent carcinogen. It is the most toxic component in diesel fuel generally used in high amounts in fracking fluids. While no level of benzene in drinking water is safe, the EPA has established a limit of five drops of benzene per billion drops of water.

Just how little is 5 parts per billion?

There are 90,840 drops in a gallon. Therefore, 5 drops of benzene in 1 billion drops of water is equal to 11,000 gallons. So just 5 drops of benzene changes 11,000 gallons of clean water into a health hazard.

Or, 1/2 a cup of benzene is more than enough to change the 5 million gallons of water used to frack an average gas well into a potential carcinogen.

Frack Fact No. 3: Fracking fluid is 99 percent clean water and sand. Well, the 99 percent is fine but that 1 percent hides an astonishing amount of dangerous and poisonous substances.

Let’s take a close look at that 1 percent.

Again, we’ll have to wade though some numbers. One percent of 5 million gallons is 50,000 gallons. Since a gallon weighs 8 pounds, 50,000 gallons weighs 400,000 pounds.

Who would have thought that the “insignificant” 1 percent was equal to 200 tons of noxious muck? And it could be much more since the often ballyhooed 1 percent is not independently verified; it is what the gas company says it is.

Frack Fact No. 4: Can fracking cause earthquakes in Pennsylvania? Very probably, yes. But no one is suggesting that you start shopping for earthquake insurance, at least not yet.

The association between fracking and earthquakes has long been noted. Fracking and the subsequent appearance of frackquakes have been observed in Alabama, Arkansas, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Usually these micro-quakes, are too small to be felt. But that doesn’t mean they have no consequences. Micro-quakes, whether caused by tectonic activity, seismic shaking, or hydro fracking, create small cracks in shale and rock strata. These cracks, enlarged by fracking, can act as pathways for fracking fluid to overlying aquifers or even to surface venting.

Frack Fact No. 5: Did you know that 100 percent of Pennsylvanians depend on groundwater for their potable water and recreational activities?

If you use municipal water or water from a spring, river, or lake, two-thirds of it comes from groundwater. And if you have a private well or use water from an artesian well, all of it comes from groundwater.

Even tourism, boating, fishing, hunting, retirement homes, state parks—-yes, they’re fracking there, too—-depend upon clean groundwater and an unspoiled environment.

Yet all of this is placed at risk. It is an all too real possibility that in the near future fracking will be recognized for what it is, a reprehensible ravage of the land. And eventually those responsible from the governor down to the local commissioners will be held morally, if not criminally, culpable for trading lives and land for dollars and jobs.

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins

New Milford, PA

With the Presidential Debates about to begin, I wish some moderator would ask Mr. Romney the following question (it would be a lot of fun):

“Do you believe that ‘As man is, God once was, and as God is, man may someday become’?” (The Doctrine of Progressive Exaltation.)

Followup: “What, besides some human being’s say-so, is your evidence for this?”

Followup: “Do you realize that this attitude, from a Christian perspective, is the ultimate impiety— man making himself God?”

Followup: “And to you, is God ‘Adam-god’, the god only of this planet?”

If Romney endorses the above proposition, he’s oddly out of step with most of America. If he doesn’t, then he’s repudiated a key Mormon tenet. Quite a quandary.

But the spineless media, I can guarantee, won’t ask this. I think it is not at all an impertinent question. An impertinent question would be about the magic underwear he’s expected to wear at all times. Doesn’t it get threadbare after a while? But I wouldn’t do that— not when there are serious matters to discuss.

Sincerely,

Stephen Van Eck

Rushville, PA

I just want to extend a thank you and deep appreciation to the Blue Ridge Parks Association.

To Vicki and John Drake and all of the organization that have put so much time and effort into creating a spectacular addition for the community.

Here’s to a job well done by all of you. You should be very proud and it is something you will always be remembered for.

Sincerely,

Barb Doran

New Milford, Pa.

On Sunday, Sept 23rd, on CBS’s “60 Minutes”, President Obama conceded that his campaign has perhaps crossed a line in its tone. “Do we see sometimes us going overboard in our campaign or mistakes that are made or areas where there’s no doubt that somebody could dispute how we are presenting things? That happens in politics”. In other words, folks, what you are getting from the Obama campaign and the media which overwhelmingly supports him is garbage and you don’t have to read between the lines to see that. Our future is at stake and we are hearing garbage. You will, no doubt, hear from his supporters that Romney’s campaign does the same thing. That is akin to them saying once again, four years later, that it is all Bush’s fault. More garbage. There are serious issues which are on the table and the Obama campaign is feeding you garbage. And you are going to make life altering decisions based on “garbage”? Isn’t that great! It is time to get off the pot and reclaim our country.

Sincerely,

Joe McCann

Elk Lake, PA