To the Editor:
“Marcellus Shale” and “petroleum landmen” are relatively new terms for us but ones which will have a direct and lasting impact on Carroll County for years to come. Marcellus Shale refers to the deep shale deposit which lies beneath a large portion of the northeastern United States, including Carroll County. The shale contains what may be one of the biggest sources of natural gas in our nation and thus is very valuable. Landmen are middlemen hired by energy companies or other speculators who hope to cash in on the production of natural gas. The landmen’s job is to buy as much land as possible at the lowest price possible for their clients.
Many people have already been approached by landmen with offers to lease the gas rights from their property. Individual landowners are at a distinct disadvantage during these negotiations. Often they do not even know what to look for, much less what a fair contract should include. The landman, on the other hand, has all the facts: the contract he offers you will have been fine-tuned by his client’s attorney, he knows how much his client is willing to pay and he knows what your neighbors have already been willing to accept. As a reaction to such practices, groups of individuals in neighboring states have been formed to make sure their rights are protected, all environmental issues have been addressed and the playing field is level.
Another issue which will impact us is water. The type of drilling used to remove natural gas from beneath the ground requires large amounts of water. The wastwater resulting from the drilling process must be carefully contained because of possible high levels of contaminants within it. Problems with contaminated water have already appeared in West Virginia and Pennsylvania as wastewater has seeped into groundwater, rivers and streams. Water is already a precious commodity in Carroll County. Between underground mining and the drilling of natural gas, our probability of problems could increase dramatically.
The prospect of becoming a part of the solution to our county’s energy dependence, as well as the economic welfare of our community, is exciting. But we must be informed, wise and diligent as we make decisions which will affect our families, our community and our environment for long beyond our time on this earth.
John and Gail Walker
Carrollton, OH
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