One of the most pressing issues facing rural western Pennsylvania is oil and gas drilling. State parks, state forests and the Allegheny National Forest are under siege by the energy companies. Millions of gallons of pure stream and groundwater are being contaminated during the hydro-fracturing process to open up new wells. Hundreds of miles of roads are being bulldozed through the wilderness, all of it sanctioned by law.

One group is leading the fight to preserve the wilds. Allegheny Defense Project (ADP) has a ForestWatch program with a network of dedicated volunteers to inform the public about the status and risks of mineral and timber extraction.

Click here to donate online and subscribe to their blog

Hunters will be shocked to see drilling activities in the North Country

Another organization serving as a responsible watchdog over the oil and gas industry is The Pennsylvania Forest Coaltion, an allianceof "2,492 hunters, hikers, anglers, landowners, wildlife-watchers, paddlers, bikers, churches and conservation groups who are united in our concern for the stewardship of our public lands."

A more pro-petroleum industry perspective on this controversial and politicized issue is worth reading online at EnergyFactsPA.com.