As the fracking boom has revolutionized natural gas production and transformed many areas of Pennsylvania, scientists have been looking into the resulting economic costs and health effects borne by those who live here. Their latest research results will be presented at a free public forum at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, at Lycoming College in Williamsport.

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network (DRN) will host and present “Who Pays?” in Room G-11 of the Heim Science Building. Local sponsors are the Lycoming College Clean Water Institute and Responsible Drilling Alliance/Keep It Wild.

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network will hold a similar forum May 23 at California University of Pennsylvania.

Since the advent of unconventional shale gas drilling, some effects have been immediate, some have emerged over time, and some are just becoming apparent. The forums seek to advance public understanding of the breadth of the impacts of fracking in Pennsylvania by examining what science and analysis tell us about the health effects and economic costs of fracking, who are paying now, and what the future price is apt to be.

The forums will feature two reports that DRN has commissioned from experts. One, by FracTracker Alliance (https://bit.ly/30kqe4u), updates previous scientific studies and journal articles delving into the impacts and risks of fracking on human health.

The second study, by ECONorthwest (https://bit.ly/2JCO7yz), is a new analysis of the economics of fracking and its industrial development. It looks at the full breadth of the costs of fracking, including those costs that are typically externalized by industry.

The reports will be presented via a video recording of the experts discussing the reports, followed by Q&A and action discussion. Social time and refreshments will follow.

DRN is looking for area residents who wish to speak on camera in personal “five-minute interviews” about their experiences with gas industry impacts. DRN plans to include material from the forums and these interviews in a video. A videographer will be available ahead of the presentation from 5:30 to 6:30. The importance of local people presenting their stories is that most are not collected or known.

For further information: Responsible Drilling Alliance president Robert Cross (570-244-7131), email rcross@equinoxltd.com; or Tracy Carluccio, Deputy Director, Delaware Riverkeeper Network (215-369-1188), email tracy@delawareriverkeeper.org.