Frankly, Damages and Hauled-in Water Are Not Enough!

Let's be honest here...are you going to be satisfied with "after the fact monetary damages" and some hauled in water if you find out that your well water has been ruined by hydro fracturing (by accident or not). I have lived here 40 years now and I for one will not be placated by any money or huge water tank if my water or my neighbors is ruined and thus our life here! Damages and fines awarded in court are simply a way of telling you "We have money enough to take every thing you have and you AND YOUR HOMESTEAD AND YEARS OF LABOR just don't count". That is the spiritual cutting edge of this entire debate. Are we living for money or do we have other values? Do we get pushed around or worse seduced by others with money and worse do we sell away all our blessings because we ourselves have an insatiable greed that can not be filled. Now I don't want to pretend I am myself without a greedy side or an interest in money or success. Many times I have had this debate with myself and I am by no means perfect on this or any other moral issue. But I am old enough now to know this is an important life choice we all face.
Folks, this is a big deal and no amount of denial and rationalization is going to make it all go away. "No water no community" is the bottom line here. Are we willing to take chances with the future over this?
Property rights must also mean "Right use of Property" such that I do not ruin your property. We are in a very serious debate here and these are the various parties: 1. Land owners who have not leased because they have taken the position that it is too dangerous and the the potential "rewards" do not off-set the costs and danger. 2. Land owners who have leased and who honestly think that drilling will actually never come here and they have a stream of free money without consequence. 3. Land owners who have leased and honestly believe drilling is safe and they will become rich and they will not harm the water supply and that after all is said and done their farms will be successfully reclaimed 4. Absentee land owners who don't care what happens because they don't live here and don't look anyone in the eye. 5. Owners of the severed gas rights who are companies and who operate solely from profit and loss considerations. 6. Owners of the surface only who have virtually no say in what happens to their land . 7. The National and State Forests. &. The State Parks. This is a very complex mix of varied and competing interests. I do not think that legal arguments can find a common denominator or that property rights can be the fulcrum on the debate. As a community we must grapple with larger more embracing concepts.
We must evaluate values and blessings and never forget that the greatest commandment is to "Love your neighbor as Yourself" which I take to mean to act and decide as a community.

The County Commission can not dictate an answer. It does have two very important duties however under statute: One to protect the health and safety of the county within its given limited jurisdictional powers and to lead the county in the debate so that we are not lost in the woods.