I got a wake-up call the other day about the drilling on the Marcellus Shale when I saw a map at http://tcgasmap.org showing land leased by the gas and drilling companies. I had thought I might lease them some land and ease my financial burden. But the map showed leased land covering a third of all land - way too much to be controlled by big business. Potentially every resident living above the Marcellus Shale could see or experience drilling sites from their property. Pictures of drill sites reveal five to 15 acres cleared to bare dirt, trucks rumbling in and out, then well-pumps churning with noise 24/7.

The hydro-fracking process used to release gas from the shale involves water with toxic chemicals, some of which gets into the ground and possibly into our water. I decided not to lease any of my land.

Wake-up calls are needed to legislators and the state. Web sites - most notably shaleshock.com - and public meetings about drilling on the Marcellus Shale are good sources of information. Everyone should inform themselves, then help send wake-up calls to protect our water and countryside.

Mary Ann Barr

Brooktondale