Home › Regional Campaigns › Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling

Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling

The Commonwealth of Virginia is facing its first Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling with a recent application in Rockingham County.

This process requires a technique called hydrofracturing which involves the injection of high volumes of water, sand, and chemicals deep into the ground to breakdown rock formations and release natural gas.  There are unknown and unintended consequences of this technology, including potential contamination of ground and surface water.

    • DCF 1.0Two Gas Pipelines Proposed in the Valley

      Augusta, Highland, Frederick and Warren Counties face major impacts to waterways, public and private land, forests and battlefields from two proposed gas transmission pipelines in the Shenandoah Valley. A third pipeline also is planned for southwestern Virginia. The three projects seek to move natural gas from the Marcellus shale fields in Pennsylvania to markets further south.

    • shale_drilling_61xMarcellus Shale Gas Drilling in the Shenandoah Valley

      The first permit for hydrofracking shale in Virginia was proposed near Harrisonburg in 2010. Find out about the status of this permit, current shale gas leases, and other regional information.

    • forest_61xThe Economics of Fracking

      Studies in New York and Pennsylvania are documenting the negative impacts of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) natural gas drilling on farming, tourism and other economic sectors.

    • waste_pool_61xView Fractracker: Data on Natural Gas Leases in Frederick and Rockingham Counties

      Utilizing information from the counties’ electronic deed systems and their on-line GIS systems, over 15,000 acres of land was discovered to have been leased to hydraulic fracture drill for natural gas.

    • pipe-s3Gas Leasing in the Valley: Presentations from the May 5th 2011 workshop in Broadway

      Citizens turned out to hear about what’s behind the “shale gas rush” that’s bringing industrial energy development to more places, and the resulting environmental and community impacts.

    • fracking_61xMore About Hydrofracking

      In Pennsylvania and West Virginia, gas drilling has converted rural, agricultural and forested landscapes into industrial zones, with intensive heavy truck traffic, pipeline and shipping infrastructure, and risks to ground and surface waters.

    • fracking_2_61xPresentations from May 5th, 2010 Marcellus Workshop in Harrisonburg

      View video clips and download presentations from several experts who came to the Valley to teach us about this industry and its impacts on communities and the environment.