Plan "B"

Plan "B" is when you have to figure out where you will have to move to after drilling commences and the contamination of lifestyle, air, land, and water begins.

ANYONE who believes fracking is safe has their proverbial ostrich head buried in the sand. EVERYWHERE drilling has occurred in the Marcellus shale, from New York to Pennsylvania to now West Virginia, contamination of (most importantly) water supplies has occurred. Gas companies are spending millions on an advertising campaign to convince us this is safe in an effort to cover up the bad publicity brought about by all the documented contaminations drilling has caused. My brothers and I own 252 acres here in Webster and we have been offered $1,000 up front royalty to allow this drilling. Tempting, but we know we would be forced to move and surrender a 150 year plus heritage of my family's lineage in this County. It is not worth it at any price.

It is not "emotional" for me to say "no fracking way." That is based on the cold hard facts about the "safety" of Marcellus drilling.

I was asked yesterday why I "give a hoot" about what happens in Pocahontas County. It's simple. The Elk River begins in Pocahontas County and cuts our county in half, supplying nearly a third of our population with its source of drinking water. Contamination of the Elk's fountain source will be a source of problems for us in Webster.

Leadership is arming yourself with the facts firsthand and informing the public by open dialogue. ANY County Commission would be extremely fortunate to be the beneficiary of the leadership shown by Mr. Saffer on this issue. And it doesn't hurt that he's dead right in his position in this matter.