As the gas boom stampedes landowners in New York to lease rights to drill the Marcellus shale formations beneath their farms and homes, many worry the drilling could pollute wells permanently. "At face value, the Marcellus gas rush story has the fanciful trappings of a fairytale, with irresistible rags-to-riches storylines and tales of woe and regret.

It goes well beneath the surface, however, anchored to the real world with weighty issues of science, politics, law and policy cutting across public and private sectors."

Tom Wilber reports a major feature package for the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin March 27, 2010. [2]