Alex Levine: Web Resources

https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx  - Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Website

Inside its oil and gas resources section, the website contains various resources including a facts page, reports and resources collection, Marcellus / Utica shale maps and data, the state's official database of oil and gas records, and an educational series about natural gas. There is also detailed information about specific guidelines for companies drilling in state forest lands. Each subsection contains a wealth of information, which can be difficult to navigate at times when searching for a specific piece of information. There are a multitude of links to other websites and graphics within the site.

https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/doclib/20100607_MarcellusShaleDrilling.pdf - Commonwealth Foundation Policy Brief

Published in June 2010, the foundation's report Pennsylvania's Natural Gas Boom: Economic & Environmental Impacts covers an array of topics about the Marcellus Shale formation and drilling in Pennsylvania. This includes the topics of economic impact, well distributions, environmental issues and concerns, social influences, infrastructure costs, regulatory responsibilities and the natural gas severance taxes. The report was written by research associates Katrina M. Currie and Elizabeth B. Stelle of the Commonwealth Foundation, an independent, non-profit research and educational institute that discusses and researches public policies, stressing the ideals of limited constitutional government and economic freedom. The report goes into quality detail about the subject matter, providing lots of statistics and graphics to back up the general argument of less taxation and regulation of the natural gas industry.

https://www.ncsl.org/research/energy/fracking-update-what-states-are-doing - National Conference of State Legislatives Website

The title of the website is "Fracking Update: What states are doing to ensure safe natural gas extraction." Its content includes fluid monitoring and disclosure of chemical additives in fracking fluid, water use and quality legislation, well inspections, air quality, and fracking moratoria. The most relevant section of the website to the topic of this paper is the "federal vs. state regulation" segment, which discusses what legislation states are pursuing that differentiates themselves from the federal regulations. The website also contains a report revised in June 2012 "Natural Gas Development and Hydraulic Fracturing, A Policymakers Guide" which is meant to serve as an informational guideline for policymakers. The website does not contain many outside links, though it does reference FracFocus.org in the section that refers to chemical disclosure laws.

http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/ - StateImpact: A reporting project of NPR member stations

StateImpact is comprised of teams of reporters across six states that examine how state issues and policy decisions change people's lives. Formed in 2011 by National Public Radio (NPR), the project is funded by a variety of national and state level foundations. Their stories are broadcast on public radio stations, both local and national, and in digital and print publications. The energy component of the organization covers the states of Texas and Pennsylvania, focusing on state economies and environmental issues.

The website for Pennsylvania has its articles broken down into four parts; regulation, economy, influence and impact. Each subsection contains articles and multimedia reports published by journalists who work for StateImpact. The material on the website is well-organized and provides a broad range of information about various topics relating to fracturing. As a watchdog-type organization, many of the environmental articles on the site take a stance against fracturing. However it must be noted that many of the articles posted are informational reporting on new developments in legislation and governmental activities. Within the articles there are links to other websites with additional information.

https://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,4561,7-135-3311_4231-97875--,00.html - Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Website

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is responsible for monitoring the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing operations in the state. Once gas leases are granted on state lands, the DEQ is responsible for collecting records from the well sites and ensuring that the proper regulations are followed. Its website contains drilling maps by county, digital gas records, injection well data, policies for submitting well records, questions and answers about hydraulic fracturing in Michigan, list of permits issued by year, and public notices about natural gas. The website is almost purely informational; therefore it takes some searching through the links to find exactly what data you want.

https://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,4561,7-135-3311_4231-97875--,00.html - Fracktopia Website

The Fracktopia website was put together by the University of Michigan’s engineering program to educate citizens about hydraulic fracturing in Michigan and the effect it will have on different aspects of people’s lives. The website includes story writing, maps, graphics and videos to help explain the details of the fracturing process in an innovative way. The content gives general details about the subject and presents a fair, balance scientific view of the topic. Though the website does not contain many links to outside sources, it explains some of the scientific studies that are being done on the topic in the engineering department at the University of Michigan.

For More Information

Michigan Fact Sheets: http://www.mogpef.org

Michigan Mineral Lease Maps: https://www.michigan.gov/dtmb/services/maps

Hydraulic Fracturing Regulations Throughout the U.S.: https://www.law.du.edu/documents/faculty-highlights/Intersol-2012-HydroFracking.pdf

Public Opinions on Fracking: https://closup.umich.edu/files/nsee-fracking-fall-2012.pdf

Fracking vs. Hunting in Pennsylvania: https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/12/us/pennsylvania-hunting-and-fracking-vie-for-state-lands.html?pagewanted=all

Essay Against Fracking on Public Lands: http://www.postcarbon.org/article/1813401-fracking-the-commons-why-your-public#

University of Michigan Fracktopia Town Hall Meeting: http://www.engin.umich.edu/college/about/news/stories/2013/april/fractopia-town-hall