A first person account:
I saw some pick-up trucks today in the dollar store parking lot, they had Alabama plates. They had stickers on the back windows that announced the Rig the guys worked on. It was RIG 80. When a rig moves the number goes with it. So do the men. (haven’t seen any female roughnecks yet)
The trucks had stickers on them that said things like “roughneck” “oilfield trash” “trucks are just like a wives, if it ain’t yours, don’t touch it!”
I also met a young guy from Texas yesterday who was starting a job on a rig in West Auburn.(PA) He was living out of his truck. He came up here for the work. He told me that he got the job because someone else was fired due to drug use. He said he would be on site for two weeks straight and they would not let him away from the site during that time, to cut down on drinking off site and partying.
So much for all those new “local” jobs drilling would bring to the area.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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As I am sure you are aware, the oilfield is a very danger place to work. With that being said, right now the boom in the natural gas fields are in the Marcellus Shale. OF COURSE people are going to move to keep their jobs. They will live out of there cars if they can send money home to their families. BUT THIS WILL bring jobs. It will take time to train people of PA… I know I wouldn't want an un-experienced crew drilling a well that is going to cost 6 million bucks. All you do is complain about spills, explosions, and other terrible things that happen in this industry. I would imagine that you of all people would WANT experienced hands running those rigs. Realize that people will have to move there to help re-start YOUR economy and teach YOUR unemployed how to take on such a risky job.
Are you kidding me? You expect people in the Marcellus Shale to be thrilled about people living out of their cars?
JOBS? What the hell good are JOBS when their children have asthma and cancer and they will be saddled with the horrendous cost of cleaning up all this mess!
Big Gas is a horrible, unforgivable polluter and if you work in the industry you have to know that.