Pennsylvania farmers warn North Carolina farmers of shale gas drilling

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/11/11/130075/pensylvania-farmers-warn-north.html

Posted on Friday, November 11, 2011
By John Murawski | Raleigh News & Observer John Murawski McClatchy Newspapers

Two Pennsylvania farmers who leased land to shale gas drillers in their state and dreamed of a big payoff painted a bleak picture of the gas industry Thursday. Carolyn Knapp and Carol French warned that if North Carolina permits drillers to explore here, residents can expect conflicts with neighbors, lawsuits with gas companies, health complaints, a spike in crime and ruined property values.The two farmers were hosted in Raleigh by two advocacy groups - N.C. Policy Watch and Clean Water for North Carolina - at a time that North Carolina is emerging as the nation's next battleground over shale gas exploration. The pair also planned to speak in Durham and Southern Pines. "We're seeing farms losing 80 percent to 90 percent of their property value," Knapp said. "The amount of noise that comes from these operations is unbelievable. ... It's probably worse than living on an expressway."Neither farmer is collecting royalties from leases on their farms, because the companies haven't drilled yet or are not currently producing gas.

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