Nothing wrong with being in the middle
When it comes to the Marcellus shale, there are clear and delineated sides of the debate.
On one side, in a rough sketch, is the camp that says that nothing short of nuclear winter should come between gas drillers and their ability to turn a profit, that any kind of government tax or fee is a death knell and that gas drilling will be done safely, will give you minty fresh breath, help you lose 10 pounds and make thousands of julienne fries.
On the other side are those who believe even the slightest possibility of environmental harm to even a single blade of grass is not worth the risk regardless of the potential benefit, that multi-billion dollar companies should be bled dry and in no way should anyone associated with drilling be trusted not to eat a puppy at a moment’s notice.
Yes, these are caricatures — but ones you’ll be said to belong to if you utter even the remotest peep about drilling, either positive or negative. I can’t speak for you, but I cannot abide this any longer.
So, without further ado, I present you my own humble attempt at a “Manifesto of the Middle-ground”:
We, the people of the Middle-ground, acknowledge that gas drilling can and does represent economic opportunity for the state of Pennsylvania. Yet, we also realize there are serious and long-lasting consequences from the extraction of this resource below our feet; we believe no-risk extraction of resources is a fallacy.
So, with all respect to the embittered edges of the debate, we find firm ground in prescribing to a notion that commonsense should win the day. We believe…
That drilling can be good.
That drilling can be bad.
That we need water to drink.
That we need jobs to feed our families.
That gaining jobs should not come at the expense of drinking water.
That protecting drinking water does not mean conducting a witch hunt.
That an extraction tax, or impact fee or whatever you call it can and should ensure that the citizens of the state benefit from the gas below us and not just the shareholders and executives of the gas companies removing it.
That doing so should not be an assault on the free market and should be in line with the rest of the gas-producing states in the nation.
We realize that environmental protection does not need to be onerous for onerousness’ sake. That if done safely, the gas beneath our feet can be an economic boon for this rust-belt state.
That while there will be accidents and there will be mistakes as long as humans are involved, that this is not proof that all gas drillers or landmen are corrupt, greedy or out to poison us.
Still, we know that, like our steel- and smog-filled past evince, there will be an environmental cost associated with that economic gain. That Dimock and Dunkard Creek are not imaginary. And that drinking water should be protected and the wastewater produced by fracking should be disposed of with the utmost care.
That the tragedy of the commons is real: some will break the rules, cut corners and game the system for personal gain — and this will come at the public’s expense. That the Robert Allan Shipmans of the world will ruin the reputation of all the honest, hardworking and careful members of the drilling industry.
But we know that it’s possible for the good to outweigh the bad.
That gas has been drilled in areas all over the country without the sky falling.
That landowners should be able to reap the rewards from the gas beneath their land.
But should not do so at the expense of their neighbors.
That there’s a difference between being hostile to drilling in your community and not wanting it too close to schools, parks or sources of drinking water.
And when it comes to government regulation, we acknowledge that drillers fear their industry becoming one never-ending trip to the DMV, but like every sport ever played, the industry needs a referee.
Because like in sports, when the stakes are high, some people will do whatever they can to get ahead.
And, since the potential for millions in profit makes for pretty high stakes, it is common sense to want the government — state, local and federal — to keep an eye out to make sure everyone is playing by the rules. That this should not mean unnecessarily complicated or overwrought rules and red tape is also common sense. And that, while it is easier said than done, government, communities and companies should be cooperative, not combative.
We, above all, recognize that there is a middle-ground to be held in the Marcellus shale debate, and we won’t be pigeonholed into some “Us Against Them” or “All or Nothing” mentality.
We are not anti-drilling or pro-drilling.
We are the Middle-ground.
If you’d like to fulfill the role of the caricatures at the beginning of this column, Brandon Szuminsky can be reached at bszuminsky@heraldstandard.com.