by KYW's Kim Glovas
Natural gas companies are moving into Pennsylvania to get their hands on, or under Marcellus shale. Two thirds of the state sits on top of Marcellus shale formations, but the environmental impact of drilling for gas underneath it are still unknown.
Horizontal drilling for natural gas is a relatively new operation. But it is allowing natural gas companies to move into Pennsylvania forestlands, and some operations are already underway. Governor Ed Rendell says drilling through Marcellus shale will create jobs and increase revenue.
"The upside is so tremendous, that we can't turn our back on it. But on the other hand, we've got to be careful about our environmental stewardship."
Tracy Carluccio of the Delaware Riverkeeper's Network says the drilling, or fracking as its called, flushes hundreds of toxic chemicals into the water supply, including the Delaware. Critics of fracking cite cases in western PA where communities are under orders to drink bottled water only because of Marcellus shale mining upstream.
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