In case some of you don't know... my daytime gig (you know the one that keeps me in hock and puddin' in jewels) is in utility regulation. I make sure they don't put gas or electric lines, generating stations and alike in your grannies back yard or living room. For the last 2 plus years my boss, the State of New York, has been debating whether or not to allow gas companies to drill wells in a shale formation in this state called the Marcellus Shale.

The trade-offs are simple, big gas reserves which will put badly needed money into to the hands of farmers and the State. Only problem is the method of gas extraction is messy and potentially harmfull. Our sister agency, the Department of Environmental Conservation, has been diddling and fiddling with new regulations with an eye towards allowing this drilling to occur... at least there WERE going to do this until HBO aired this documentary last night called "Gasland".

Wow what a horror show this was:

1. The guy starts visiting folks out west who've been having well water problems for some time, including three in Pennsylvania. Their stories were not very riveting UNTIL they began LIGHTING THEIR WELL WATER ON FIRE!!!!!! Seems that when you hydro-frac, as some might assume you can't control in many instances, where the fracking fluids are going to go nor where the gas is going come out. The sight of people turning on the tap then setting their tap water on fire was chilling as it was shocking.

2. Numerous people, most of em good solid citizens from the south-west, showed off the expensive and complicated well water replacements systems that the gas companies put in so they would drop complaints or law-suits. Time after time they recounted how they challenged company officials to drink the water they declared was "safe" only to have them refuse.

3. Infared footage of drying tanks in the Dallas/FW area were shown spewing plums of "Xenes and Ol's" into the atmosphere. Independent air analysis (most State govts. can't or won't do the testing) showed that the stuff coming out of these ubiquitous tanks was/is a toxic cocktail of epic proportions.

4. People light creeks and streams on fire from the gas.

5. Company wags in Washington doing the "there's no credible research" two step after this film of absolute horror pretty much painted them as money grubbing worms. Hinchey's hair was fabulous.

6. The GIS data showing how quickly shale exploration and well drilling completely overwhelms an area is amazing. The guy in Texas warned us "back east" not to let it get out of hand like they did.

While this wasn't "Silent Spring" it is a pretty big bomb-shell. If this documentary which aired in Prime-Time on HBO last night with repeated viewings and on-demand availablity is widely viewed, we might NEVER see M.S. drilling in this state due to the fire-storm of controversy it's sure to arouse. Thanks to HBO, my work life's either just gotten more complicated or real simple.

Worf