Memo 1: Project Hopping:
Topical
Area
Data Sets? Social
Why Now? How
Bias?
Theoretical
Prepared?
Questions?
Fields of
Work?
Funders?
Communitie Interviews How does Fracking is Research I think
Ethnography NSF? NIH?
s affected with
the rapid
an ongoing last
fracking is a , technology Anti-fracking
by fracking community introduction debate of
semester; bad idea,
governance, organization
members, of industrial particular
possible from a
environment s?
industry
practices
importance trips to
logistical
al justice,
workers, and impact
in NY State. West
standpoing. social
industry
communities The
Virginia, It's just
equality?
executives; ? How do
environment contacts in another
analysis of communities al and social West
nonhealth
deal with
implications VIrginia, renewable.
studies
the intrusion are
contacts in
performed in of harmful numerous. the NYS
communities industry
AG's office
; data on
practice;
costs to
what factors
communities limit their
(i.e.health abilities to
care costs, cope? Is
etc.)
there an
advantage
to collective
organization
? What
factors
determine
the amount
of media
coverage
that a
particular
disaster
receives?
Governance Interviews How do
The ongoing Past year I tend to
Politics of NSF?
of Air
with
societies
asthma
of TAF
believe that the
Quality
researchers deal with
epidemic, research, poor air
environment
in different complex
decreases in contacts in quality
,
cities, review environment air quality Singapore negatively government
of literature al issues?
due to
and LA
impacts
systems,
on air quality How do they industrial
health, and environment
governance deal with
practices
therefore al health
and
large-scale
needs to be
regulation health
dealt with in
issues?
some way
Sustainable Interviews How can
The need for Contacts in Having
Social
Practices in with
sustainable more
low-income community practices
sustainable
housing
members, impact
practices is
developmen employees quaity of
evident in
ts
of the
life? What every social
housing
barriers face class, but
developmen low-income the
ts, potential communities overwhelmi
case studies , in terms of ng
of lowhaving
assumption
income
access to
is that the
communities new
lower
already
technologies classes are
implementin ?
incapable of
g more
achieving
sustainable
this.
practices
Portsmout
h Housing
Authority,
need to
make
contacts in
surroundin
g
communiti
es
grown up in classes,
such a
sustainabile
community, developmen
I have an
t
inherent
dislike of
organization
s (like PHA)
that are put
in a position
where they
could
improve the
lives of
those they
work with,
but instead
they choose
to
implement
discriminato
ry and
unjust
policies.
Memo 2: Habits, Talents, Neuroses
Do you have more trouble articulating your frame (social theoretical questions) or object?
I tend to have more trouble articulating the objects of my research. I have a much easier time identifying
the social problems/questions that interest me.
Do you tend to project-hop or to stick to a project, and what explains this?
I tend to project hop; I like to be involved in a number of different projects. Not only does this keep my
from getting too hung up, or “stuck”, on one project, but I think it also helps me to stay a well-rounded
student/researcher/etc.
Do you tend to be more interested in internal dynamics, or external determinations? In the terms laid
out by Keller, do you tend to focus so intently on the object of your concern that context falls away (i.e.
are you obsessive compulsive, rather than paranoid)? Is your desire is to name, specify and control your
object? Is your desire is for figure, its ground your annoyance? Or are you paranoid, context being your
focus and obsession? All is signal. Only begrudgingly will you admit that something is noise, outside the
scope of your project? Figure is hard to come by. Its ground has captured your attention.
I think I tend to be more interested in external determinations. I suppose this qualifies me as paranoid,
in Keller’s terms. At times, I have trouble focusing in on one specific aspect of a project, and can become
overwhelmed by everything that affects and is affected by the topic of study.
What do you do with unusual or counter examples? Are you drawn to “the deviant,” or rather repulsed
by it?
I am definitely drawn in by the unusual, or by counter examples. I think that by paying particular
attention to “the deviant”, we open new doors and provoke new ideas within our research. Where I
often run into trouble is in trying to keep everything relevant to the topic at hand.
Do you tend to over-impose logics on the world, or to resist the construction of coherent narratives?
I am unsure; at times I do tend to over-impose logic on the world (perhaps because part of me wants to
think that every event/action follows some sort of logical plan). However, there are definitely times
when events seem to defy all logic. So, perhaps I am a little bit of both?.
.
Do you tend to over-generalize, or to hold back from overarching argument?
I try to avoid overgeneralizing. The research that we do consists of so many complex parts that at times
it seems impossible to form any sensible generalized statement.
Do you like to read interpretations different than your own, or do you tend to feel scooped or
intimidated by them?
I enjoy reading/hearing interpretations that are different from my own. It forces me to re-evaluate my
own conclusions, and I feel that this is what allows me to grow as a researcher.
Do you tend to change an argument as you flesh it out, or do you tend to make the argument work, no
matter what?
I’d like to say that I would change my argument to whatever the research suggests. However, I know
that I am sometimes a stubborn individual, and that oftentimes I will do whatever I can to make a
particular argument work.
Do you tend to think in terms of “this is kind of like” (metaphorically)? Do you hold to examples that
“say it all,” leveraging metonymic thinking?
I definitely tend to think metaphorically. I often find myself drawing on comparison to formulate my
argument.
Do you like gaming understanding in this way? Does it frustrate you that your answers often don’t fit
easily on either side of the binaries set up by the questions? (Jakobson suggests that over attachment to
a simple binary scheme is a “continuity disorder.”)
I do not like having to define my ways of understanding as “one or the other”, as this questionnaire
attempts to do. This is partly because I do not think the topic is as simple as a “this or that” question, but
it may also be partly because I find myself struggling to answer most of these questions. In most cases, I
find myself thinking, “well, sometimes I do this, but other times I do this.” I understand the value of
analyzing oneself in this way, however
Memo 3: Biosketch 2033
Lisa McDevitt is an Associate Professor at a well-respected University in a warm climate. Her research
has focused primarily on environmental sociology and social class, with a particular focus on low-income
communities. With a background in earth science, as well as social science, she received her PhD in
Sociology from the University of California, Irvine. Past research has focused on the community-level
impacts of harmful industrial practices, as well as on the targeting of minority groups by the
corporations responsible for these practices. She is currently involved in two projects: one to better
understand discrimination in low-income housing developments, and one that seeks to understand the
potential for sustainable energy sources within these developments. She has published a number of
articles on these topics, and is the author of the Fracked Community, an analysis of neighborhoods and
towns torn apart by natural gas extraction. She is also currently working on a memoir of her experiences
growing up in a government-subsidized housing development, and the injustices she witnessed there.
Research Interests: Environmental sociology, social class, social inequality, disasters
Memo 4 : Wish List
study communities outside of the northeastern United States (hopefully somewhere warm!)
understand community-level impacts of fracking
work in low-income/minority communities to better understand why industry is able to target them
so easily, and to find ways to combat this phenomenon
work to better understand the subsidized housing system (i.e. the politics and regulations within it),
and how it can be improved
work to bring sustainable practices to low-income housing developments
work to better understand the role of social class in disaster relief
work to better understand the relationship between social class and access to new, more sustainable
technologies, and to find ways to provide these technologies in an affordable way.
study in other countries to learn about different approaches to sustainability (in particular: Singapore,
Iceland, New Zealand)
Gain a better understanding of the links between social class and environmental inequality/injustice
Study how quality of life in poor communities can be improved through the implementation of
sustainable practices (i.e. community gardens, composting, etc)
Better understand how sustainable practices can aid in community building
Memo 5: Project Definition:
Draft 1:
Social Theoretical Questions:
What factors enhance or limit a community's ability to cope with harmful industry practices? What
social and cultural characteristics affect a community's dynamics? How does environmental health stress
affect community dynamics? How does environmental stress affect society at the individual, family,
community, local governance, state, and national levels?
Research Questions
How does the fracking industry impact communities at the individual level, and what repercussions does
this have for the other levels of the community and society in general? How aware are these individuals
of the risks posed by fracking?
Why Now?
Fracking is an ongoing debate of particular importance in NY State. The environmental and social
implications are numerous.
How Prepared?
Research last semester; possible trips to West Virginia, contacts in West VIrginia, contacts in the NYS
AG's office
Fields of Work
Environmental health, environmental justice, ethnography (?), community structure, community
governance, public health, environmental regulation and policy
Funders
NSF? Anti-fracking organizations? I'm still a little stuck on this part....
Draft 2:
Social Theoretical Questions:
What factors enhance or limit a community's ability to cope with harmful industry practices? What
social and cultural characteristics affect a community's dynamics? How does environmental health stress
affect community dynamics? How does environmental stress affect society at the individual, family,
community, local governance, state, and national levels?
Research Questions
what factors shape the experiences of women in communities affected by the shale gas industry?
Why Now?
Fracking is an ongoing debate of particular importance in NY State. The environmental and social
implications are numerous.
How Prepared?
Research last semester; possible trips to West Virginia, contacts in West VIrginia, contacts in the NYS
AG's office
Fields of Work
Environmental health, environmental justice, ethnography (?), community structure, community
governance, public health, environmental regulation and policy
Funders
NSF? Anti-fracking organizations? I'm still a little stuck on this part....
Memo 6: Hierarchy of Questions:
1. What shapes how women perceive the risks associated with the shale gas industry?
a. How do women perceive the risks associated with fracking?
i. What concerns do you have regarding industry presence in your town?
b. Do women consider environmental health risks of significant importance?
i. Would you consider yourself an environmentalist?
ii. What aspects of your environment are important to you? What role do they
play in your life?
iii. What environmental impacts have you noticed, as a result of industry activities?
c. Where do community members get their information regarding the shale gas industry?
i. What information have you received regarding the shale gas industry (and the
potential impacts of its presence), and where did this information come from?
ii. What information sources do you use most frequently? (i.e. newspapers,
television, internet, etc.)
d. What kinds of interactions occur between community members and industry?
i. Has the industry contacted you in any way? If so, can you describe this
exchange?
ii. Do you, or does anyone you know work for the shale gas industry? Doing what
job? How has this affected your/their opinions of fracking?
iii. What is your overall impression of the shale gas industry and its workers?
2. What risks does the shale gas industry pose to community members in “fracked” areas?
a. How does fracking affect the health of the surrounding communities?
i. What change in physical health have you seen in yourself? And in your family
members?
ii. Have you been to a doctor? What was his/her diagonosis?
iii. Has the presence of the shale gas industry affected your stress level? How so?
iv. Have you noticed or been diagnosed with any physical symptoms of stress?
b. What social stresses are present in shale gas communities?
i. Can you describe the crime rate in your town? Has it changed at all since drilling
began?
ii. Could you describe any concerns you have regarding your own personal safety?
Or that of your family?
iii. Could you describe any changes you’ve noticed in and around your community
since drilling began?
iv. What do you feel is the most significant change being made to your community?
v. Could you describe the state of the roads in your area?
vi. In what ways has the industry infrastructure affected your sense of overall wellbeing?
3. What makes communities vulnerable to the shale gas industry and its impacts?
a. Does a history of environmental health risk make a community more vulnerable to
future risk?
i. In the time that you have lived in this area, have you experience other
environmental stresses? If so, can you please describe them?
ii. How has your community dealt with environmental, health, or social stresses in
the past?
b. How do socioeconomic factors contribute to the production of risk?
i. What is the mean income of the community?
ii. What is the economic history of the area?
4. What affects how communities react to and cope with the presence of the shale gas industry?
a. What role do women play in reacting to the environmental, health, and social risks that
result from industry presence?
i. What are your overall feelings towards the shale gas industry?
ii. In what ways have you acted upon those feelings?
iii. Who in your community has taken on a leadership role (if anyone) in arguing
their point of view regarding the shale gas industry and its impacts?
 How would you describe his/her success?
b. What factors affect the community’s ability to support the shale gas infrastructure?
i. Where do non-native industry workers stay?
ii. Could you describe the state of the roads in your area?
iii. What measures has local government taken to make sure that industry workers
are accommodated?
iv. What community resources and services have been affected?
5. How does community stress affect overall community health?
a. What factors shape/alter a community’s sense of well-being?
i. How has industry presence affected your own personal sense of well-being?
ii. Have you noticed any changes in community dynamics since the shale gas
industry arrived?
Memo 7: Research Design Grid:
Aims
To generate new knowledge about
the impacts of hydraulic fracturing
on individuals within fracked
communities
To better understand
what enables industry
to infiltrate
communities,
oftentimes bringing
with it destructive
practices that
negatively affect
community members.
Questions What effects are felt by individuals What factors enhance
of fracked communities, and how or limit a community's
are these effects felt through other ability to cope with
levels of community and society? harmful industry
practices?
Data
Interviews with community
Collections members and public officials,
review of policies regarding
fracking
Emerging Shale gas extraction through
Arguments hydraulic fracturing negatively
impacts human and animal health
in the surrounding communities
Literature Schmidt, Charles W. “Blind Rush?
Shale Gas Boom Proceeds Amid
Human Health
Questions.” Environmental Health
Perspectives 119.8 (2011): a348.
Print.
Interviews with
community members,
review of industry
practice, review of
existing literature on
community
vulnerability to
industry.
I'm not exactly sure
To better understand the role
of individuals (women in
particular?) in communities
affected by fracking
How do women in these
communties define
environmental disaster, and
what do they feel is the
appropiate response? Do they
view fracking as such a
disaster? What sorts of
networks do they form with
other women in the
community?
Interviews with women in
these communities, review of
the roles women have played
in past environmental disaster
response (through literature).
In the realm of environmental
issues, women are often
portrayed as either vulnerable
or virtuous.
Seema Arora-Jonsson. “Virtue
and Vulnerability: Discourses
on Women, Gender and
Climate Change.” Global
Environmental Change 21.2
(2011): 744–751.
Memo 8: Three Literatures and Thirty References:
Final:
i. The Social Impact of Shale Gas Extraction
ii. Environmental Justice
iii. Gender and Environmentalism.
Initial: Literature 1 - Framing the Communities Impacted by Industry in Environmental Disaster
This set of literature aims to characterize the communities being targeted by the fracking industry. The
goal is to establish whether or not certain characteristics make a community more or less vulnerable to
harmful industry practice, by situating fracking communities among other victims of industry-caused
environmental disaster.
Rebecca J. Sargisson et al. “Volunteering: A Community Response to the Rena Oil Spill in New
Zealand.” Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management 20.4 (2012): n. pag.
So-Min Cheong. “Community Adaptation to the Hebei-Spirit Oil Spill.” Ecology and Society 17.3 (2012):
n. pag.
Svendsen, Erik R. et al. “GRACE: Public Health Recovery Methods Following an Environmental
Disaster.” Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health 65.2 (2010): 77–85. Print.
Zhang, Yang, Michael K. Lindell, and Carla S. Prater. “Vulnerability of Community Businesses to
Environmental Disasters.” Disasters 33.1 (2009): 38–57. Print.
Literature 2 - The Environmental Impacts of Fracking
This second set of literature will aim to capture the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing. The
communities surrounding the natural gas developments will be immediately impacted by detrimental
environmental impacts. Therefore, understanding these impacts will provide a better idea of how
communities are affected.
Billie Jo Hance, Caron Chess, and Peter M. Sandman. Industry Risk Communication Manual: Improving
Dialogue With Communities. CRC Press, 1990. Print.
Elizabeth Royte. “What the Frack Is in Our Food?” Nation 295.25 (2012): 111–118. Print.
Finkel, Madelon L., and Adam Law. “The Rush to Drill for Natural Gas: a Public Health Cautionary
Tale.” Public Health 101.784 (2011): n. pag. Google Scholar. Web. 10 Sept. 2013.
Heather Ash. “EPA Launches Hydraulic Fracturing Study to Investigate Health and Environmental
Concerns While North Dakota Resists Regulation: Should Citizens Be Concerned?” n. pag. Print.
Kotsakis, Andreas. “The Regulation of the Technical, Environmental and Health Aspects of Current
Exploratory Shale Gas Extraction in the United Kingdom: Initial Lessons for the Future of European Union
Energy Policy.” Review of European Community & International Environmental Law 21.3 (2012): 282–
290. Print.
Schmidt, Charles W. “Blind Rush? Shale Gas Boom Proceeds Amid Human Health
Questions.” Environmental Health Perspectives 119.8 (2011): a348. Print.
Siler, Patrick. “Hydraulic Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale: The Need for Legislative Amendments to New
York’s Mineral Resources Law.” St. John’s L. Rev. 86 (2012): 351–351. Print.
Huhnsik Chung, and Gregory Hoffnagle. “The Risks of Hydrofracking.” Risk Management 58.5 (2011): 32.
Print.
US Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking) Regulations Handbook, 2012. New York, 2013. Print.
Daniel J. Rozell, and Sheldon J. Reaven. “Water Pollution Risk Associated with Natural Gas Extraction
from the Marcellus Shale.” Risk Analysis 32.8 (2011): n. pag.
Literature 3 - Recorded Concerns and Past Efforts to Try and Fight Back Against Fracking
This set of literature will hopefully provide a background and a timeline of efforts to prevent the natural
gas industry from negatively impacting communities. This will provide an idea of where past leadership
has emerged, how/if communities have been able to structure themselves to combat environmental
disaster. It will also show which levels of governance have been involved in such tasks. Literature 1 Framing the Communities Impacted by Industry in Environmental Disaster
This set of literature aims to characterize the communities being targeted by the fracking industry. The
goal is to establish whether or not certain characteristics make a community more or less vulnerable to
harmful industry practice, by situating fracking communities among other victims of industry-caused
environmental disaster.
Rebecca J. Sargisson et al. “Volunteering: A Community Response to the Rena Oil Spill in New
Zealand.” Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management 20.4 (2012): n. pag.
So-Min Cheong. “Community Adaptation to the Hebei-Spirit Oil Spill.” Ecology and Society 17.3 (2012):
n. pag.
Svendsen, Erik R. et al. “GRACE: Public Health Recovery Methods Following an Environmental
Disaster.” Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health 65.2 (2010): 77–85. Print.
Zhang, Yang, Michael K. Lindell, and Carla S. Prater. “Vulnerability of Community Businesses to
Environmental Disasters.” Disasters 33.1 (2009): 38–57. Print.
Literature 2 - The Environmental Impacts of Fracking
This second set of literature will aim to capture the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing. The
communities surrounding the natural gas developments will be immediately impacted by detrimental
environmental impacts. Therefore, understanding these impacts will provide a better idea of how
communities are affected.
Billie Jo Hance, Caron Chess, and Peter M. Sandman. Industry Risk Communication Manual: Improving
Dialogue With Communities. CRC Press, 1990. Print.
Elizabeth Royte. “What the Frack Is in Our Food?” Nation 295.25 (2012): 111–118. Print.
Finkel, Madelon L., and Adam Law. “The Rush to Drill for Natural Gas: a Public Health Cautionary
Tale.” Public Health 101.784 (2011): n. pag. Google Scholar. Web. 10 Sept. 2013.
Heather Ash. “EPA Launches Hydraulic Fracturing Study to Investigate Health and Environmental
Concerns While North Dakota Resists Regulation: Should Citizens Be Concerned?” n. pag. Print.
Kotsakis, Andreas. “The Regulation of the Technical, Environmental and Health Aspects of Current
Exploratory Shale Gas Extraction in the United Kingdom: Initial Lessons for the Future of European Union
Energy Policy.” Review of European Community & International Environmental Law 21.3 (2012): 282–
290. Print.
Schmidt, Charles W. “Blind Rush? Shale Gas Boom Proceeds Amid Human Health
Questions.” Environmental Health Perspectives 119.8 (2011): a348. Print.
Siler, Patrick. “Hydraulic Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale: The Need for Legislative Amendments to New
York’s Mineral Resources Law.” St. John’s L. Rev. 86 (2012): 351–351. Print.
Huhnsik Chung, and Gregory Hoffnagle. “The Risks of Hydrofracking.” Risk Management 58.5 (2011): 32.
Print.
US Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking) Regulations Handbook, 2012. New York, 2013. Print.
Daniel J. Rozell, and Sheldon J. Reaven. “Water Pollution Risk Associated with Natural Gas Extraction
from the Marcellus Shale.” Risk Analysis 32.8 (2011): n. pag.
Literature 3 - Recorded Concerns and Past Efforts to Try and Fight Back Against Fracking
This set of literature will hopefully provide a background and a timeline of efforts to prevent the natural
gas industry from negatively impacting communities. This will provide an idea of where past leadership
has emerged, how/if communities have been able to structure themselves to combat environmental
disaster. It will also show which levels of governance have been involved in such tasks.
Memo 9: Peopling a Project:







Catalysts
Experience with environmental
issues
Potential to work together?
Large numbers
Concern for their
families/communties
Groups/Types
Women in Fracked 
Communities

Ability to band together?
Support from anti-fracking
groups
Use of technology/media to
share their stories
Families in fracked
communities
Corrosions
Lack of knowledge and access to knowledge
Lack of financial resources
*




Lack of financial resources
Lack of education
Can often be quieted with NDAs
Lack of access to certain technology/media

Desire not to be around fracking Natural gas industry 
chemicals
workers

Financially dependent on fracking
Lack of education



Vast funding sources
Natural gas industry 
Government support
execs and scientists 
American desire to break foreign
oil dependence
Creation of jobs at fracking sites
questions about "solid science"
Internet - better allows individuals to
question industry


Easy access to community
members
Local government

Ability to declare moratoriums
State governments 
Pressure from national level to "aid in
reducing dependence of foreign oil."



*
Vast funding sources
Access to scientists
Ability to enact legislation
National government
Subject to industry pressures
In the pocket of industry lobbyists






Access to more funding than
many community groups
Large networks of supporters
Media support



*

Environmental groups
Access to research
Academic researchers
grants/funding
Networks of researchers
In an ideal world, not subject to
Less power than state/national government
sometimes swayed by industry
Sense among community members that local
government officials hold little power?
Sometimes viewd as biased
Sometimes pressured by university funding
sources
industry pressures
Memo 10:
Structuring a Project
Legal and Legislative



Energy Policy Act of 2005
Zoning Laws
Safe Drinking Water Act
Technological




1980s/early 90s – George Mitchell combines horizontal drilling with hydraulic fracturing, allowing access
to the natural gas within the Barnett Shale
Chemicals leaking into wells
Disclosure of fracking fluids
Development of flaring practices
Economic


Recession
Instability of oil prices
Social



Industry relations with fracked communities
Sharing of information through social media
Gasland vs. Truthland, Gasland II
Political




Desire for “energy independence”
Lobbying efforts of oil and gas industry
Zoning ?
Climate change and cleaner energy
Cultural



Industry control over country
Poor, rural, communities targeted by industry
Movement of young adults out of rural areas (seeking education, employment, etc)
Natural

Climate change
Memo 11: Potential Interview Questions:
iii. What concerns do you have regarding industry presence in your town?
iv. What aspects of your environment are important to you? What role do they
play in your life?
v. What environmental impacts have you noticed, as a result of industry activities?
vi. Would you consider yourself an environmentalist?
vii. What information have you received regarding the shale gas industry (and the
potential impacts of its presence), and where did this information come from?
viii. What information sources do you use most frequently? (i.e. newspapers,
television, internet, etc.)
ix. Has the industry contacted you in any way? If so, can you describe this
exchange?
x. Do you, or does anyone you know work for the shale gas industry? Doing what
job? How has this affected your/their opinions of fracking?
xi. What is your overall impression of the shale gas industry and its workers?
xii. What change in physical health have you seen in yourself? And in your family
members?
xiii. Have you been to a doctor? What was his/her diagonosis?
xiv. Has the presence of the shale gas industry affected your stress level? How so?
xv. Have you noticed or been diagnosed with any physical symptoms of stress?
xvi. Can you describe the crime rate in your town? Has it changed at all since drilling
began?
xvii. Could you describe any concerns you have regarding your own personal safety?
Or that of your family?
xviii. Could you describe any changes you’ve noticed in and around your community
since drilling began?
xix. What do you feel is the most significant change being made to your community?
xx. Could you describe the state of the roads in your area?
xxi. In what ways has the industry infrastructure affected your sense of overall wellbeing?
xxii. In the time that you have lived in this area, have you experience other
environmental stresses? If so, can you please describe them?
xxiii. How has your community dealt with environmental, health, or social stresses in
the past?
xxiv. What is the mean income of the community?
xxv. What is the economic history of the area?
xxvi. What are your overall feelings towards the shale gas industry?
xxvii. In what ways have you acted upon those feelings?
xxviii. Who in your community has taken on a leadership role (if anyone) in arguing
their point of view regarding the shale gas industry and its impacts?
 How would you describe his/her success?
xxix.
xxx.
xxxi.
xxxii.
How has industry presence affected your own personal sense of well-being?
Where do non-native industry workers stay?
Could you describe the state of the roads in your area?
What measures has local government taken to make sure that industry workers
are accommodated?
xxxiii. What community resources and services have been affected?
And also:
Questions for Community Members:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
How far is your home from the nearest frack pad?
How long have you lived in this area?
Please describe your family structure (i.e. married? kids?)
Does your extended family live in this area? If so, how long have they lived here?
Are you, or is anyone in your immediate family, employed by the shale gas industry?
Has fracking directly impacted your (or your family's) health?
Has fracking directly impacted your (or your famliy's) sense of well-being?
Who in your community would you identify as a leader, as someone capable of instituting change? Have
they been impacted by shale gas extraction?
9. Who, if anyone, in your community has been most vocal in the shale gas debate?
10. What are you primary concerns regarding the presence of fracking in your community?
11. Does the presence of the shale gas industry in your community make you feel less safe? If so, could you
explain why?
Questions for healthcare/legal Professionals:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Where do you practice?
What changes have you noticed in the community since the fracking industry moved in?
Since the fracking industry has moved in, what has been the most common complaint?
Who in the population appears to have been affected most by fracking?
What is your role in the community?
Do you believe fracking has a negative impact on communities? If so, how?
Memo 12: Historicizing a Project:
1994 – Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation questions EPA’s decision not to regulate fracking,
citing the Safe Water Drinking Act.
1996 – the case reases federal appeals court, which rules that EPA has to regulate fracking,
begins the push to exempt fracking from regulation.
June 2004 – 1st Marcellus Shale well
2004 – EPA report finds that fracking is safe for drinking water.
2005 – Congress passes Energy Policy Act that prohibits EPA from regulating the industry under Safe
Drinking Water Act
November 2005 – First horizontal drilling permit issued in PA
2007 – Memo from the Bush Administration loosens limits on air pollution for NG wells.
October 2008 – Obama Administration rescinds the Bush memo.
January 2010 – Gasland premieres
February 2010 – House Committee on Energy and Commerce begins investigation of
environmental/health impacts
March 2010 – EPA begins investigating impacts of fracking on drinking water
February 2012 – Pennsylvania Act 13 signed into law
Memo 13: Interviewee Introduction
Dear _,
My name is Lisa McDevitt and I am an undergraduate student in the Sustainability Studies program at
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. I am interested in the community impacts of environmental risks and
disasters, and am currently working on my senior thesis, which will focus on the role of women in
communities affected by high volume hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the Marcellus Shale. My aim is to
deepen the understanding of the environmental, social, and health impacts associated with natural gas
extraction in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. I am writing to ask if you would be willing to be
interviewed for this research. Your (research/work/experience) would be a valuable addition to the
work.
My hope is to (insert reason for interview here. Describe what the interview could contribute to the
research as a whole)….
I hope you will consider this interview; your insights would add an interesting dimension to this
research. Please let me know, either by email (mcdevittlisa@gmail.com) or phone ((603) 380-3857), if
you are interested. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Lisa McDevitt
B.S. Geology and Sustainability Studies
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Memo 14: Study Components
Literature Review
The first stream of this research will consist of a review of the applicable literatures. This will provide the
basis for further streams of research, and give a broad scale perspective of the issue. The literatures I
will be focusing on are:




The sociology/anthropology of science
Environmental justice
Environmental Health
Gender and its role in environmental risk perceptions, experiences, and activism
Field Work
A second stream of research will be conducted in the field. Throughout the semester, I plan to visit
several fracked communities, in both West Virginia and Pennsylvania, in order to conduct interviews
with community members, particularly women who have been impacted by unconventional natural gas
extraction. These impacts include:




Health impacts
Employment impacts
Social impacts
Risk Perception
I will also be observing community members and their attitudes/actions towards the natural gas
industry.
Interviews with Professionals
Interviews with experts in the fields of environmental health and environmental justice will comprise
the third stream of this work. Their work experience will likely impact the way they view fracking, and
their inputs will add depth to the project.
Memo 15: Schedule
September – Mid-October: Review the literature on environmental justice, environmental health, and
gender as it relates to the perception of environmental risk. Seek out and contact potential
interviewees.
October 26th-27th – Trip to West Virginia with Yuri to interview community members and conduct
ATSDR Health Survey
November-December – Seek out and contact more interviewees. Make weekend trips to WV and PA to
conduct interviews with women in communities and health professionals in the area. Conduct
interviews with legal/health professionals via skype/phone calls.
January – Trip to WV or PA over winter break? Continue interviewing those affected and professionals.
Spring – Synthesize data, perform final interviews, do a final sweep of the literature, write, re-write,
then write again.
May – Submit thesis. GRADUATE.
Memo 16: Field Sites



Fracked communities in West Virginia
Fracked communities near Pittsburgh, PA
Well pads in West Virginia (?)
Memo 17: Core Categories:





Environmental Justice
Energy Politics and Governance – In an oil-dependent society, fracking provides a potential alternative.
However, any benefits of natural gas drilling come at serious costs to communities around the wells. I’d
like to contribute to the knowledge of the factors that create the relationships between industry, policy
makers, and community members, and how these relationships in turn lead to the implementation of
certain policies.
Community Leadership– When a community is faced with disaster, certain members emerge as leaders.
I am curious to see who, in fracked neighborhoods, will take on this responsibility and why. I am
particularly interested in whether or not women will fill these roles.
Governance Structures – In order to understand a community, it is necessary to look at the governance
systems in place. What levels of governance are most effective in fracked communities? I hope to gain a
knowledge of where the power lies and how this contributes to the production of vulnerability,
perception of risk, and reaction to environmental risk.
Environmental Risk Sensibility/Perception – This category analyzes the perception of environmental risk
among different groups. I hope to contribute an understanding of how community members in WV and
PA perceive natural gas drilling and the associated risks, as well as how they approach perceived risk.
This knowledge could also play a role in understanding the construction of vulnerability in such a region.
Memo 18: Hegemonic Backdrop:
The hegemonic backdrop for U.S. energy is shaped by the country’s dependence on foreign oil.
American society has come to rely on fossil fuels, and would struggle to function without them, and in
order to meet consumer demand, the country is forced to import obscene amounts of oil. The pressure
is on to find a way to meet U.S. energy needs without having to rely so heavily on foreign oil. Adding to
this pressure is the emergence of climate change science. The dominant idea, at least among younger
generations, is that the U.S. (and the world, for that matter) needs to drastically cut its CO2 emissions.
The subject of unconventional shale gas drilling, however, is not dominated by a single hegemonic idea.
Supporters rely heavily on the belief that fracking is a cleaner burning, domestic energy source, which
could provide an alternative to imported oil. It would be a short-term solution, however, as shale gas
(like oil) is a non-renewable resource, and scientists do not have a clear idea of just how much of it exists
within U.S. soil. A major flaw in this discourse is the fact that the U.S. exports natural gas; what good is a
domestic energy source is it is being exported to other countries?
The dominant idea among fracking opposition is that it poses a significant threat to the environment.
Studies have shown negative impacts on water quality, as well as significant methane (a more potent
greenhouse gas than CO2) emissions. Emerging research on the health impacts of unconventional gas
drilling also contributes to the anti-fracking argument.
Memo 19: Shifts in Sign Systems:
U.S. energy has long been dominated by fossil fuels; since the Industrial Revolution the country has
become increasingly more reliant on imported fossil fuels. However, the emergence of climate-change
science, coupled with political unrest in oil-producing countries, has begun to change the way
individuals think about energy. Younger generations are more aware of the long-term impacts of fossil
fuel dependence, and are recognizing the need for more sustainable practices.
A shift in power is also taking place; industry no longer has total control of the media. More young
people are turning to social media to get their news, instead of the traditional media sources which have
long been controlled by industry. Individuals have access to more information than ever, giving them
insights into the multi-scale effects of news topics.
The debate around unconventional shale gas drilling has been heavily impacted by the shifts. Despite
industry claims that fracking is a safe and sustainable practice, many individuals are hesitant to support
it. This is largely due to the availability of information through the internet and social media sources, as
well as a general awareness of the need to consider long term impacts of energy policy decisions.
Memo 20: Abstracting:
The aim of this study is to advance the knowledge and understanding of:
Vulnerability production among women in fracked communities
This study will draw on and extend (3) scholarly literatures that examine:
1. Environmental justice
2. Gender and the perception of environmental risk
3. The social sciences of fracking
Data for the study will be conducted through the following (3) activities:
1. Literature review
2. Interviews with affected community members
3. Review of media coverage
Results of this study demonstrate (3)
1. Age-based disparity in the pereception of environmental health risk
2. The impact of family structure on environmental health risk (i.e. women with children perceive
risk differently that childless women
3. The impact of type of employment on environmental risk perception.
Findings from this study indicate that the following (3) kinds of change is called for:
1. Improving existing methods for educating community members on the health impacts of
fracking.
2. Improving the availability of existing knowledge/research on both the hydraulic fracturing
process and its potential health effects.
3. Further research into the health effects of fracking
The aim of this research is to generate knowledge about the perception of risk associated with high
volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing (fracking), among women of the Marcellus Shale. The study will
draw on the existing literatures that examine risk perception, the social effects of fracking, and gender
roles in environmentalism. The research will be carried out through a) a review of the existing literature,
and b) field work in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Through interviews with women affected by the
fracking industry, this study will highlight the ways in which women perceive and experience the risks
associated with fracking. This understanding will help policy makers understand the reality of risk and
vulnerability in the Marcellus Shale
Memo 21: Describing People
In many cases community members find themselves unable to find questions to their most pressing
health questions.
Consider Rita Johnson, mother of two pre-teen boys living just outside of Pittsburgh. The Johnson family
home rests less than 500 feet from a well used to extract shale gas. Both Rita, and her husband, Sloan,
were caught off guard by the sudden industry infiltration of their home town. On a warm day in August,
2010, a representative from the oil industry appeared at their front door, informing them that his
company would be mining the natural gas located in the underlying rock. He promised them they would
be mostly unaffected by the industry’s presence, and advised them to go about their lives as if nothing
was changing.
“Going about their lives” turned out to be a near impossible task for the Johnson family. Both boys
began having seizures in their sleep, and the doctors were of little assistance, unable to pinpoint a direct
cause. Rita and Sloan began videotaping their boys as they slept, in the hopes that the visual evidence
would lead to a diagnosis. Several weeks after drilling began, Rita began having dizzy spells. On several
occasions, her husband and children have returned home from work or school to find her laying on the
ground, to weak and dizzy to move.
Repeated trips to the doctor proved useless. A connection to fracking, they were told, would be almost
impossible to prove. The boys were prescribed anti-seizure medication, and Rita was encouraged to
drink plenty of water and be sure to eat enough. Outraged at the lack of a diagnosis, the Johnson family
has spent the past few months hopping from one doctor to another, hoping for some conclusive
answers. So far, however, their efforts have been in vain, and the medical bills are piling up.
Memo 22: Describing Practices
Describing Practices
The home page on Chevron’s website is titled, “the Power of Human Energy”, and it contains slide show
of images focusing on issues like education, sustainability, and energy exploration. The company’s
motto, it appears, is “Finding newer, cleaner ways to power the world.”
In search of information about shale gas, I clicked the link, “Energy Sources”, and was directed through
to a list of all the energy sources being developed my Chevron. I clicked “Natural Gas”, which the site
describes as, “a clean and abundant fuel.” The next page gives an overview of natural gas as an “efficient
economical energy source,” as well as of the areas where Chevron is currently pursuing the resource.
Clicking the “Shale Gas” link, one is taken to a page which contains a video touting the community
benefits of shale gas development. The short video features interviews with Pennsylvania residents, and
is designed to show how the industry is “fueling job growth and strengthening local enconomies.”
No mention is made of the potentially harmful effects of shale gas extracton, or of the exact process
used to extract it. The tone of the website’s text is hopeful and positive; giving the impression that shale
gas could be a viable energy solution.
Memo 23: Describing an Event
The shale gas industry does not neglect women from its practices. In fact, in many cases gas companies
reach out to women, in an effort to convey the positive effects of hydraulic fracturing in communities.
Gatherings like the one hosted by Folse Land Service in April of 2012 are designed to bring together
women working in the industry, making it seem like less of a “man’s world.”
Over 100 women attended this particular event, and a short video, titled, “Women of the Marcellus”,
was shown to all in attendance. The video, much like the event itself, highlighted the positive impact of
natural gas drilling within families and communities, through a series of interviews with women. The
theme of the night seemed to be the happiness that the shale gas industries brings to wives and
mothers, and even grandmothers, by allowing them to a) work in the industry and b)keep their families
together (i.e. they don’t have to seek employment elsewhere, or send their children elsewhere to
achieve an education).
Noticeable absent from the evening were any non-industry employees. If, like the women shown in the
film, women in all fracked communities are reaping the benefits of shale gas extraction, where were
they? Were they not invited? If not, why? The theme of the event seems to diverge slightly from what
the even actually was: a night of free dinner and entertainment for industry employees.
Memo 24: Describing Place
Describing Places (I found an existing report about a frack-town, and decided to run with it)
Many of the reports I have read refer to fracking towns as having a “Wild West” feel to them. However,
these descriptions did not prepare me for what I experienced in Towanda, PA. Just getting into the city
proved to be a hassle; the roads were jammed with heavy trucks, slowing traffic to a crawl around the
frack pads. My guide (who exists only for the sake of this writing exercise) informed me that the city
had experienced more heavy truck accidents in as long as he could remember. Bored in the hot car, I
used my smartphone to discover that, since 2005, heavy-truck crashes had increased by 7.2 percent in
heavily fracked counties within Pennsylvania, while the same statistic had dropped by 12.4 percent in
unfracked areas.
That night, we dined at a restaurant near the wells. Around 8pm, industry workers began piling in.
Some of them merely ate their meal before leaving. The majority of workers, however, remained as the
alcohol flowed, laughing raucously, grabbing the rear ends of the frustrated wait staff. My group
remained long into the night, observing the workers’ (of whom most were male) behavior. We watched
as uninterested women, hurriedly paid their bills and exited the restaurants, only to be replaced by
other, often more scantily clad, women.
Around 1am, my group decided to call it a night. After my first twelve hours in Towanda, I was anxious
to see what the rest of the trip would bring.
Memo 25: Describing Organizations
Describing Organizations
I can see this going one of two ways:
1) I could describe one of the companies drilling in the Marcellus, comparing their what they say
they are going to do with what they actually do. For example, if the company provides a list of
“best practices”, it might be interesting to compare and contrast these practices to actual
practices used at the fracking sites. Many natural gas companies provide detailed information
on their websites, and I wonder to what extent this information holds true in the real world. It
also might be interesting to look at the relationship between the company and the media, as
well as between the company and policy makers.
2) The second option might be to look at a community group or organization that has decided to
take on fracking. How do they approach the issue? Where do they get their information? What
sorts of interactions have they had with the industry? Who is involved? What is the governing
structure of the group (is there even such a structure?)? Characterizing a group like this could
help frame the community mindset on the shale gas industry, as well as its ability to implement
change.
Either way, I think using this kind of description to flesh out industry-community relationships would
benefit my work. It could provide a sense of how the two interact, and how vulnerability is
produced/perceived in these interactions.
Memo 26: Emerging Arguments
Family structure is a key factor is shaping the perception of environmental health risks and stresses.
Age plays an important role in shaping the perception of environmental health risks.
Individuals having a history of community involvement tend to perceive more risk when faced with
potential environmental health stresses.
Communication with industry shapes perceptions and experiences of risk.
Employment helps shape the perception of environmental health risk; those employed by (or having
family employed by) industry perceive less risk than those who are unemployed or whose employment
lies outside of industry
Memo 27:Draft Overview
This study aims to broaden the understanding of the production of vulnerability in communities
impacted by hydraulic fracturing, through an analysis of the factors contributing to risk perception
among women within these communities. The research will be guided by the following question: what
shapes women's perspectives on fracking in the Marcellus Shale? The first stream of research will
consist of a review of the existing literature on the sociology/anthropology of fracking, environmental
justice, and the effect of gender on environmental risk perception. The second stream will consist of
interviews with community members (particularly women) and health professionals in West Virginia and
Pennsylvania, as these regions are currently experiencing shale gas drilling.
Given the current energy outlook, this topic is of particular importance. The U.S. currently relies on
imported oil as its primary energy source, and while natural gas could help alleviate some of that
dependence, this (temporary) relief comes at a price. Shale Gas extraction is currently a hotly-debated
topic, with science to support both sides. What this study seeks to contribute is an understanding of the
social impacts of fracking, and their role in the ongoing debate.
Memo 28: Draft Background Sections
-Energy policy
-Climate Change
-Ongoing Debate
-New technologies – new impacts
Memo 29: Chapter Summaries:
The overarching argument of this research is that the health effects associated with unconventional
shale gas extraction near the home extend beyond just the biophysical, and include social and emotional
(? not sure this is the word I want to use, but I'll come back to it) health impacts. The destructive effects
of industry presence on home and family life will be highlighted.
Introductory Chapters:
1. "Who, What, Where, When, and Why?" - This first chapter will discuss the " who, what, where, when,
and why" of the issue.
It will begin with why shale gas is an issue (i.e. what poltical, social, and environmental factors have
contributed to the idea that society needs natural gas?),as well as highlight some of the ongoing
controversies and debates. It will also briefly discuss the science and industry methods used to extract
natural gas (the "what"), without going into detail on how these methods may harm communities. The
chapter will then go on to identify the geographic regions and communities discussed in the paper (the
"where" and "who"), and give a brief history of shale gas extraction (the "when").
Body Chapters:
Each of these chapters will highlight a specific way that fracking industry presence affects family and
home life.
2. Impacts on Children's Performance in Schools - How has the presence of the natural gas industry
affected the way children perform in school? Has the stress/illness associated with hydraulic fracturing
caused them to miss excessive school or to do poorly? (NOTE: I’m thinking of omitting this one, and
replacing with a discussion of Women as targets of industry and as activists)
. Impacts on Family and Community Roles - This chapter will discuss how the stress of living near shale
gas wells has altered family roles. For example, if one member of the family becomes too ill
to contribute how does this affect the other members of the family, as well as the family as a whole?
The text will also extend beyond just a single household, to look at how this affects the roles of
individuals and families within the community.
4. Access to Information and Resources - In this chapter, I will discuss the sources of information
available to individuals in fracked communities. Media bias, greenwashing, and education will be key
topics in this chapter.
5. Impacted Sense of Well Being - This chapter will look at the ways in which industry presence impacts
community members' sense of well being. It will touch on the safety and health issues associated with
the presence of hundreds of transient industry workers, as well as the direct effects of the drilling
process itself.
Concluding Chapter
6. This final chapter will summarize the paper's findings, showing how the fracking industry affects more
than just the physical health of community members.
Memo 30: Ethical Conundrums:
1. have no physical tie to the regions I'm studying. This may make community members reluctant to share
their stories with me, especially if the community is tight-knit. My hope is that they understand that my
goal is to share their stories, to make people aware of the social issues associated with fracking.
2. If the individuals I interview express a liking for the industry, how do I convey that in a way that does not
undermine my central arguments?
3. If an individual feels that they have been seriously harmed by the industry, will this affect the way they
tell their story? And if he/she expresses a particulary strong emotion (i.e. outrage at they way they've
been treated), how do I convey that in a way that will both satisfy the individual, yet remain professional
and true to the theme of the paper?
4. If a professional expresses the belief that the industry is beneficial to the community, how do I frame
that within the text, while remaining true to the underlying arguments?
Memo 31: Broad Impact:
The impact of this work extends beyond the academic realm in the following ways:


Energy Policy - The current energy practice in the U.S. is unsustainable. The country finds itself in a
position where alternative fuel sources are becoming necessary, and shale gas is a domestic energy
source, making it a marketable alternative in the eyes of many policy-makers. The impact of this work is
to show that perhaps the benefits of shale gas are far outweighed by the human/social costs.
Human Health - Little work has been done on the health effects associated with the social and
environmental stresses of fracking. This research contributes to that body of work, calling attention to
the issue so that affected communities can achieve some kind of justice, as well as receive treatment for
the health issues that have gone mostly unacknowledged by the industry.
Memo 32: Cover Mock-UP
Ok, so I don't have a pretty picture of what my cover is going to look like. BUT..... here's the main idea:
Title: Fractured Families of the Marcellus Shale
(Also thinking of something along the lines of: Natural Gas in My Backyard)
Image: A child's drawing of a family standing in front of their house. The drawing includes a well pad,
and maybe the home is falling apart?
(Not making any commitments here. Definitely open to other ideas)
Memo 33: Imagining Change:
The Problem:
The presence of the natural gas industry has negative impacts on human health, and these impacts
extend beyond direct biological and physical impacts.
What Changes Would Help Solve This Problem?
Policy:


A ban on shale gas extraction through horizontal drilling/hydraulic fracturing.
A shift towards promoting more renewable energy sources.
Legal System:

Penalties for natural gas companies whose drilling affects surrounding communities.
Media Coverage:



MORE!
More coverage of NG exports
Less influenced by industry
Political Decision-Making:


Less influence from industry lobbyists/
Drop the idea of natural gas as a "sustainable and domestic" fuel source. It' s not.
The Way Organizations Function:


More interaction with community members.
More focus on industry workers
Educational System:



Teach about the harmful impacts
Don't teach NG as a sustainable alternative. Teach it as a fossil fuel no better than petroleum.
Less focus on CO2 emissions - there's more to environmental science than that.
Behavior:




Learn to adopt more energy efficient practices.
Make the shift to renewables.
Interact with policy-makers
For fracked communities: document everything, no matter how trivial it may seem.
Thinking:

Stop looking for easy energy solution. It doesn't exist. There's no quick fix for oil addiction.
Technology:

Design technologies that will use renewable energy, and less energy in general.
Spending:

Stop spending money on NG development; invest in renewables instead
Memo 34: Imagining Solutions
The Problem
The harmful social impacts of natural gas extraction in the Marcellus Shale, and the ways in which
environmental health stress affects communities.
Imagining Solutions:
Why are you concerned about this problem?

It is largely ignored in the discussion of "sustainable" energy, as well as in the discussion of
environmental health. The risks of fracking extend beyond the biological health and
environmental impacts.
What solutions have been proposed so far, and what debates have these solutions provided?



Stop natural gas drilling and focus on renewables: the argument here is that this would be too
time-intensive, too costly, and simply too difficult. It is easier to use natural gas as a "transition
fuel."
People in fracked communities should move: the issue here is that many of these individuals do
not have the means to relocate. In many cases, they have put so much of their time and money
into their current homes, making a move both undesirable and nearly impossible.
Stop fracking until we have more science to show that it can be done safely: the primary issue
here is that companies are already doing it, and already profiting from it. Of course they don't
want to stop now!
What promise do you see in the solutions proposed so far?

Not a lot. Industry seems to hold the power in this situation, which puts community members in
an unfortunate position. Industry lobbyists have a lot of influence over policy makers, it seems.
However, there is some promise in the way that community members are learning to speak up
and make themselves heard.
What limits do you see in these solutions?

They all rely on policy makers coming to their senses and not being governed by greed. Or at
least not being swayed so easily by industry. It's not impossible but it would be a huge change in
the way the U.S. functions.
What kinds of solutions are you prepared to undertake?

Working with community members to get their stories told. My contribution to the solution will
be my research, through with I will try to convey the social impacts of shale gas extraction in the
Marcellus Shale.
What will be the biggest challenge in realizing the solution you have in mind?


The scale of the problem is far greater than the impact that one single researcher can make. A
solution of this magnitude requires a lot of people, from a lot of backgrounds, to work together.
Also, making community members realize that they can speak up, and should do so, may be
challenging. From what I've seen so far, there may be a sense of "this is just the way it is."
What kinds of people will you need to help you?


Like-minded researchers.
Healthcare professional, legal professionals, and community members willing to be interviewed.