Breaking the Land: Marcellus Shale and the Gas Age

Series produced by Reid Frazier

Caption: Making way for the Marcellus, Credit: Reid R. Frazier/Allegheny Front
Image by: Reid R. Frazier/Allegheny Front 
Making way for the Marcellus 

Stories about Marcellus Shale, the environment, and the coming of the age of shale gas.

Shale gas is changing the country. Through hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, we can now extract enough natural gas to power the country. But is it safe? And what cost will we pay? These stories explore how natural gas is changing land, society and country in the northeast. Produced by Reid R. Frazier, the Marcellus Shale reporter for the Allegheny Front, Pittsburgh's public radio news show about the environment.


7 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
PA Denies Doctor's Request to Examine Fracking-Health Link
From: Reid Frazier
Series: Breaking the Land: Marcellus Shale and the Gas Age
Caption: Amy Pare, a doctor in Washington County, Pennsylvania, has been trying to get the state to examine possible links between gas development and health problems. , Credit: Reid R. Frazier
Concerns about the health effects of hydraulic fracturing prompted a Washington County, PA doctor to ask the state to take a closer look at a group...

  • Added: Jul 27, 2012
  • Length: 01:45
In a Gas Boom, Looking for Answers on Health Questions
From: Reid Frazier
Series: Breaking the Land: Marcellus Shale and the Gas Age
Caption: Amy Pare, a plastic surgeon in heavily-drilled Washington County, Pa. She's found arsenic, benzene, and other drilling-related contaminants in the urine of her patients., Credit: Photo: Reid R. Frazier
Thousands of wells have been drilled in the Marcellus shale, using new types of drilling methods. But there are questions about the safety of these...

Bought by Prairie Public


  • Added: May 18, 2012
  • Length: 09:50
  • Purchases: 1
When 'No' is Not an Option: Gas Boom Brings Problems to Surface Owners
From: Reid Frazier
Series: Breaking the Land: Marcellus Shale and the Gas Age
Caption: Marty Whiteman found himself in a struggle with Chesapeake Energy, which leased the gas under his farm. , Credit: Reid R. Frazier
What happens when your land sits on top of a rich natural gas deposit, but you don't own the mineral rights. In Wetzel County, West Virginia, many ...

  • Added: Mar 09, 2012
  • Length: 07:05
Drilling salts still turning up in drinking water supplies
From: Reid Frazier
Series: Breaking the Land: Marcellus Shale and the Gas Age
Caption: Making way for the Marcellus, Credit: Reid R. Frazier/Allegheny Front
Why are Marcellus shale salts still turning up in drinking water? Is Pennsylvania's voluntary program to limit them keeping drinking water clean?

  • Added: Jan 30, 2012
  • Length: 07:50
Gas Money flowing into Universities
From: Reid Frazier
Series: Breaking the Land: Marcellus Shale and the Gas Age
Caption: Making way for the Marcellus, Credit: Reid R. Frazier/Allegheny Front
Gas companies spend millions of dollars to fund research at Penn State. Does the money buy anything else?

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio


  • Added: Jan 27, 2012
  • Length: 07:06
  • Purchases: 1
Fracking the Forest: Pennsylvania's Woods are Fair Game
From: Reid Frazier
Series: Breaking the Land: Marcellus Shale and the Gas Age
Caption: Making way for the Marcellus, Credit: Reid R. Frazier/Allegheny Front
How will fracking affect Pennsylvania's most remote forests? Reid Frazier took a trip above the state's biggest forest and saw first hand the impri...

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio


  • Added: Jan 27, 2012
  • Length: 07:46
  • Purchases: 1
Wells to Wheels: Can shale gas power cars?
From: Reid Frazier
Series: Breaking the Land: Marcellus Shale and the Gas Age
Caption: Making way for the Marcellus, Credit: Reid R. Frazier/Allegheny Front
We use natural gas to heat our homes and generate our power. Can we use it to fuel our cars? Big Gas thinks shale gas is the key to cleaning up our...

  • Added: Dec 22, 2011
  • Length: 06:57