Lawrence County Future Unknown
Are property owners in Lawrence County about to experience a major economic boom and property owners about to enjoy a wealthy lifestyle? Or are the owners of the properties about to incur a downward spiral as corporations pillage the environment for their own gain, leaving the area in shambles?
Depending on the perspective and interests of those who are concerned, the future will be wonderful or disastrous. But from many perspectives, the future remains uncertain.
The relatively recent advances in drilling techniques allow for access of deep sources of fossil fuel that were previously beyond human reach. Around the nation, areas of shale rock have been discovered to hold deposits of natural gas or oil. But, not all shale deposits were created equal. Nature has unevenly distributed the gas and drillers have discovered “sweet spots” – with a considerable amount of gas deposits.
Lawrence County is on the edge of the Marcellus Shale layer, so as of right now, there has been no rush to drill in this area. A few wells have been placed and have been drilled so far this year. And, unless significant amounts of fuel are found on the land, not much will change for local residents.
The full economic benefits of shale drilling for Lawrence County are still unclear. The same holds true for the environmental impact. There are reasons for concerns on both fronts, but as for now, the community will be deemed a “work in process.”
Do you currently live in the Lawrence County area and do you or your neighbors know of anyone nearby with wells on their properties for drilling purposes? Please let us know of any problems or positive attributes it has brought to your property by leaving a comment below.