Podcast: Author discusses new book on region's fracking impacts, looks ahead to Sept. 23 Arts Center event

A report in 2011 that Pennsylvania was poised to be the "Saudi Arabia of natural gas" inspired Colin Jerolmack, a native of the state who had since moved to New York City, to stay in Williamsport for eight months to research fracking and ultimately write a book.

"That just sounded huge, surprising, scary. I really wanted to know more about it," he said. "Around that same time, my adopted state of New York had put a moratorium on fracking (that later became a ban), and there were all these debates and protests. I personally wanted to learn how fracking was going to impact Pennsylvania, particularly in the middle region of the state where a large amount of fracking was set to take place, and where there had previously been population declines as jobs had disappeared."

Associate Professor of Sociology and Environmental Studies at New York University, Jerolmack took an eight-month sabbatical to temporarily move into an apartment in Williamsport and research fracking, while engaging landowners and others connected to the fracking industry while penning a new book: "Up to Heaven and Down to Hell: Fracking, Freedom and Community in an American Town."

"When I moved there, I really didn't know anyone. I embedded myself into the community, which meant on Sundays I went to church at three different places in three different parts of the county," he said. "I spent time at an old-fashioned general store which was a place where all kinds of people gathered for hours at a time each day, especially if they were retirees or farmers in the winter when things were slower. I'd go three days a week and have breakfast and did other things like that, inserting myself into community space where people were gathering."

He quickly learned to adjust some of his preconceived notions about fracking in central Pennsylvania.

"If you were going to ask what I thought the story was going to be, even though I was very open to what was happening, I thought it was going to be a story on how fracking splits a community in half. You know, there are all sorts of people who are for it, all kinds of people who were against it and how that kind of conflict plays out," he said. "The big surprise was that just about everyone outside of the city of Williamsport itself -- basically everyone who owned land -- just about everyone supported it (fracking). 
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"There was this moment where I was like, well, gee, now what? I figured I would spend quite a bit of time with people who were for it and quite a bit of time with those against it and the story would be about this conflict, and there wasn't really conflict."

The focus of the book instead evolved into looking at mineral rights, landowner responsibilities and telling the stories of people who were impacted by fracking in ways they didn't anticipate. This included families whose well water was contaminated with "explosive levels" of methane.

In the newest episode of the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Podcast, we chat with Colin about the stories he shares via this book, what he learned along the way and his impressions of different people connected to fracking in the region, including state agencies such as the DEP and DCNR.

Colin also talks about an upcoming event at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport where he will talk about the book and be joined by some of the individuals who share their stories in the book. For more about the event itself, click here.

You can listen to the full episode here:

Check out our podcast page for the most up-to-date list of previous podcast episodes. Also, you can access them individually here:

• Penn State educator Pete Allison on the power of connecting people to our natural resources.
• Wild Trout Man Dr. Joseph Simons III on his video series showcasing wild trout fly fishing and the conservation needed to clean up our waterways and protect our natural resources.
• Eric Skrivseth and Eric Rosengrant, of the Moshannon Creek Watershed Association, talk about their efforts to clean up the waterway over the past year.
• Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition of Abandoned Mine Reclamation's Bobby Hughes on the widespread issue of Abandoned Mine Drainage.
• Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association intern Danielle Tryon on her background and plans for the future.
• ​Susquehanna University researcher and stream restoration expert Matt Wilson on a variety of local projects.
• Hiawatha Paddleboat captain Mike Strunk on the history of the vessel heading into its 40th season, cool things he gets to see on the river so often and the importance of our Floating Classroom series.
• PSU graduate student and musician William Ryan on his inspirational Songs of the Susquehanna submission and the importance of making changes for the river.
• Susquehanna University intern Morgan Thomas on being one of two summer interns for the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association.
• Watershed management extension specialist for the Penn State Extension Tyler Groh chats about agricultural and urban stormwater issues.
• PSU graduate research assistant Kathryn Hayden on endocrine disruptors in our waterways.
• DEP aquatic biologist supervisor Douglas Orr on the Black Fly Suppression Program.
• Outdoor educator Lou Ann Gasperine on why young people need outdoor education.
• Master naturalist Jon Beam talks about the importance of vernal pools and how we can better protect them.
• Hellbender researcher Peter Petokas on trends in hellbender populations and how we can protect the species.
• Columbia County Conservtion District water specialist Brittney Hartzell on waterway issues within the county and the importance of stepping up to make a difference.
• PennEnvironment researcher Faran Savitz on a recent study that shows a microplastic proliferation in waterways across the state.
• Susquehanna Greenway Partnership's Corey Ellison on how her organization connects the region's land and water trails.
• Pennsylvania Master Naturalist director Michele Richards on the program and the impact of naturalists with our environmental resources.
• Bass pro and high school educator Casey Magaragle on his fishing exploits, Sneaky Hollow Bait Company and the thrill of coaching students to state and national fishing titles.
• Brenda Sieglitz on the Keystone10 Million Trees Partnership, how trees help clean up our waterways and the need for 1,300 new landowners to come forward for free trees from the program in the next year.
• Former state representative and senator Franklin Kury on his efforts to spark the Clean Water Act and Environmental Rights Amendment, the 50th anniversary of the movement and his new book due out soon. 
• Veterinarian Kathleen Mullen on her study involving sick foals and potential ties to fracking.
• Andrew Dehoff, of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, on the group's 50th anniversary.
• Don Shappelle, musician, on creating river songs with young people and the Songs of the Susquehanna project.
• John Levitsky, water specialist for the Luzerne County Conservation District, on abandoned mine drainage at the Plainsville Borehole Discharge.
• Cain Chamberlin, of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, on the Tunkhannock Creek's nomination for River of the Year.
• R. John Dawes, the creator of the Water Report app that allows anglers and others to share their catches and help us track health trends in our fish species.
• Kathleen Lavelle, of Trout Unlimited, on a unique fish relocation project she helped oversee, trout-based trends in the region and the importance of volunteering
• John Dawes, of the Foundation for PA Watersheds, on assisting smaller watershed groups, acid mine drainage and other waterway threats.
• ProtectNorthernPA.org founder Diana Dakey on her concerns about the production and transportation of liquified natural gas.
• Teen kayaker and angler Lila Oast on how kayaking has opened doors for her.
• Outdoor educator Jon Beam and Audubon member Gary Metzger with an overview of duck species and the threats they face in our watershed.
• Renee Carey of the Northcentral Pa. Conservancy on the importance of preservation and public access.
• Benjamin Hayes, director of Bucknell University's Watershed Sciences and Engineering Program on health of the river.
• Salmon angler Steve Kurian on benefits of clean water and fresh fish.
• Educator Van Wagner on his unique Eels in the Classroom program and the importance of eels.
• Waterkeeper Alliance Executive Director Marc Yaggi on growing up in the Middle Susquehanna watershed and his quest in the fight for clean water.
• Outdoor educator Jolene Connelly on the importance of getting youth and women on our waterways
• Diving instructor Rich Best on trends, treasures and threats under the Susquehanna
• Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers spokesperson Tali MacArthur on the importance of assisting a watershed group
• Falconer Mike Dupuy on raptors of our river and the threats they face
• Fish and Boat Commission spokesman Mike Parker on the agency's efforts during COVID and the historic unexpected start to trout season
• Wesley Forest Camp director Emily Sliski with stories of getting young people engaged with nature at camp and on the Penns Creek
• Professional angler and YouTuber John Oast on how he got his start, what he has learned along the way and observations of the river
• Biologist David Lieb on the concerning trend of exotic crayfish eradicating native species in our watershed and how it is impacting the ecosystem