In Pennsylvania, fracking opponent protesters are spurred on by federal reports indicating that the oil companies are overstating the natural gas reserves in the Marcellus Shale. This shale is found in parts of Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virgina and West Virginia.

Quebec, Germany, France and South Africa, as well as several states have already implemented limited fracking bans. The EPA is still studying the claims and will release its findings late in 2012.

We will continue to monitor this issue in our own SoMoCo area.