MARCELLUS SHALE GAS LEASES

The natural gas companies land managers have been in Northeast PA for some time signing up land owners.

The farmers were some of the first ones to sign.

Why you might ask?

The milk farmers are in a financial bind. It costs more to produce the milk than they are paid for it.

The government controls the price of milk, however they don't control the cost of producing it.

The grain and animal farmers prices are controlled by the futures market.

Our county recently did a reassessment of property values. They hit land very hard. Who has the most land -- farmers do. Even if they are in the Clean and Green program their taxes have escalated and this year our school board put their hands out again and raised school taxes one more time. No controls on them. All this after values have bottomed in the real estate market.

So the gas companies come to town and offer the farmers the opportunity to keep their farms for a few more years and not have to sell them to developers.

Everyone is happy with the lease, permits are issued and the company is approved to drill a well in Lehman Twp.

Now coming on the scene are the protesters and activists, who for the most part are professionals living in large homes built on land that once was -- you guessed it, farmland.

They threaten a lawsuit, the gas company cancels its permits and are drilling in neighboring townships where they are welcomed. The farmers in Lehman Twp. are out of luck.

The activists are worried about the water supply in the Huntsville and Ceasetown dams.

They of course don't worry about contamination of these same water supplies with the salt brine and salt that is poured on the roads by the tons in winter. After all they need clear roads to get to work. Guess where all that salt goes -- into the dams and wells.

Out here in the Back Mountain most of the properties have septic systems, including the big mansions all around the dams. It all drains into the reservoirs and wells.

All those fancy homes the activists live in have beautiful lush, green lawns and landscaping. They are created that way by fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.
They all drain where -- into their own private wells and the reservoirs.

Guess what goes through the development for energy source to their homes, yup, a natural gas line. Their electricity is supplied by UGI whether or not they have a third party billing company. The lines belong to UGI. Guess what is used to produce that electricity -- natural gas.

I guess its the old saying "not in my backyard". Well I have a suggestion for the activists, if you don't want the companies to drill in Lehman Twp. then stop using natural gas and electricity in your homes. Not to do it is hypocrisy.

The next time you meet a farmer, thank them for the sacrifices they make to continue to produce the food and milk on your table, because slowly they are disappearing. If the activists have their way it will be sooner than later.

We can only hope the gas companies find an abundant supply of natural gas in this area and be able to call the activist's bluff about a lawsuit.

Gee, I wonder what "Green" organization is behind these activists in order to fund lawsuits and other activities!