As the already intense pressure increases for America to cut the umbilical cord from the Middle East, gas companies are desperately trying to find alternatives in our own back yard. With such slogans as “drill, baby, drill!” the public seems to be on board with the urgent need to find alternatives as soon as possible. In the Northeast, there is an area that extends throughout much of the Appalachian Basin called The Marcellus Shale. This area, located in the Northeast seems to offer the perfect resource to produce more gas and according to the gas companies, create new jobs. The shale contains largely untapped natural gas reserves and has now become the prime focus for energy development.

The natural gas industry is spending millions of dollars to sell the merits of drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale. The process of extracting the gas is called hydro-fracking or more commonly referred to as fracking. While it seems to be the perfect solution, just how safe is it? What exactly does fracking do to the environment? Is there any impact on our drinking water? What happens to your land if you do not wish to permit the gas companies to frack on your land but your neighbor does?

In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show, host, June Stoyer talks to the councilman, Douglas Shields from the City of Pittsburgh and Brigit Shields of Marcellusprotest.org and will talk about their own personal experiences with fracking as well as what people need to know. Stay tuned!