A natural-gas rush in some of New York and Pennsylvania's most
pristine habitats could have serious negative consequences for
the water supply of New York City. The Marcellus Shale holds
possibly the largest reservoir of natural gas discovered so far
in the United States, as much as 500 trillion cubic feet. As gas
companies send their "landmen" on prospecting hunts, armed with
contracts that boast the possibility to make millions, a
struggle has already manifested between those eager to strike it
rich and those who are aware of the consequences of drilling -
natural spaces transformed into loud industrial zones, drill
pads, pipelines, access roads and all. While the rigs have
already begun drilling in Pennsylvania, the land around the
Catskills has yet to be tapped. Even so, Governor Paterson
signed a bill this past summer streamlining the permit process,
so that gas companies could begin operating in the spring.
Greater than the risks of the drilling process itself is the
concern of the horizontal hydraulic