Isaiah Thompson of City Paper has written another outstanding article about our problem. He features Dr Michael Boufadel of Temple University who is a distinguished and unbiased (doesn't consult to the industry) scientist who voices his very serious concerns over the rush to drill.
It's about time his worries and recommendations were given some real publicity to help offset the absolute crap so often hurled at us by other "academics" who have a financial interest in the frackers.
Please note his final words as to his motivation:
"I live here, too - and I have children."
Once again I say - Way to go Isaiah!
Note - On April 20,The Academy of Natural Sciences held a panel discussion called "Marcellus Shale: The Science and the Policy". The panelists included Dr Boufadel, Curtis Jones, Jr, Philadelphia City Councilman, Kenneth Warren, Esq., General Counsel of the DRBC, and Dr Terry Engelder from PSU. I have watched the discussion in its entirety and was utterly impressed with Dr Boufadel and Councilman Jones. Engelder's presentation (I watched it twice) was a blatant sales pitch and an embarassment - if I were in charge of the Academy I would have interupted with apologies to the audience and brusquely shown him out the door. In his introduction no mention was made of his private consulting business. I've been meaning to write to the Academy about his decidedly unscientific portion of their otherwise excellent discussion. I might be reading into it, but it seemed that Dr Boufadel was uncomfortable with Engelder's presence.
Watch for yourselves - it's worth the time.
Councilman Jones was a real surprise.
