Take action, drilling critics urge

JOE DOLINSKY Times Leader Correspondent

KINGSTON-- Concerned residents packed the Bergman Auditorium inside the Temple B’nai B’rith in on Wednesday night to listen to the testimony of two Texas men whose experiences in dealing with the harsh ramifications of natural gas drilling might just be an indication of what’s to come in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania.

Calvin Tillman, mayor of DISH, Texas, gives the second half of the presentation `Life in the Gas Fields’ at Wednesday’s gas drilling meeting at the Temple B’nai B’rith in Kingston.

PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER

The frank discussion entitled “Life In The Gas Fields” featured the passionate testimony of Tim Ruggerio, a Decatur, Texas native whose family was subject to the assembly and continued usage of natural gas drilling equipment a mere 300 feet from his home.

“What you are about to see here, if you simply leave this meeting and do nothing else, will be your future,” warned Ruggerio, as he shuffled through the images depicting the changes that occurred seemingly overnight on his property.

Ruggerio, to the sound of gasps from the nearly 100 audience members, told how the grazing fields he and his wife constructed for their horses were paved over to make way for gas drilling paraphernalia.

Adding to the reality of Ruggerio’s story was Mayor Calvin Tillman of DISH, Texas, who said he saw his once pristine town adversely affected by natural gas drilling companies. Tillman spoke to the severity of its effects and when asked to sum up the ramifications on his community in one word responded: “devastation.”

But Tillman and Ruggerio did not idly stand by. Together, they founded ShaleTest.org, a non-profit company that provides testing and materials to families whose financial situations prevent them from being able to hire outside companies to do such work.

The organization will test the drinking water, air and soil for families and can be contacted through the website, which also features the dates of upcoming appearances by Tillman and Ruggerio.