Pike gets ‘thumped’

Seismic survey underway in region

By SANDY LONG

PIKE COUNTY, PA — Mammoth vehicles designed to transmit vibrations far underground began harvesting data along Route 6 in Pike County last Sunday to facilitate the process of natural gas extraction in the region. The first indication of the process was the appearance of pink survey flags placed within PennDOT’s right-of-way, followed by miles of cable strung along the roadway.

The unusual vehicles, commonly referred to as “thumper trucks,” are owned by Dawson Geophysical Company of Midland, TX. The truck depicted above was one of three such vehicles operating among numerous Dawson vehicles. Two additional companies from Ohio assisted with highway safety.

Dawson supplies its data to the natural gas industry. The company did not respond to attempts to obtain additional information.

Visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=73m2FXgkbAs to see a video of the trucks in action.

An upcoming informational session related to gas drilling has been scheduled for January 17, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Delaware Valley High School in Matamoras. The free program, “What is Fracking?” is sponsored by the Pike County Citizens for Clean Water.

Presentations will include “Upper Delaware, Lower Delaware: One River” by Tracy Carluccio, deputy director of Delaware Riverkeeper; “Overview of the Process of Mining for Natural Gas” by Barbara Arrindell; and “The Legacy of our Watershed to Our Children” by Pat Carullo, both of Damascus Citizens for Sustainability.

A speaker from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is expected. Media presentations that document the process of hydraulic fracturing and its impact on communities will be shown. Printed materials will be available and a town hall question-and-answer forum will follow. Visit twcwc.com and click “Fracking” for more information.