By Sandy Hausman
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wmra/local-wmra-965389.mp3
Harrisonburg, VA – The nation's need for energy has fueled what some call a new gold rush, drilling for natural gas trapped in layers of shale deep underground.
The nation's largest expanse of shale is in Appalachia, stretching from Virginia to New York.
So far, only one firm has asked for a permit to drill in Virginia, but a Houston-based company has leased thousands of acres around Harrisonburg, and residents are getting nervous.
Virginia Public Radio's Sandy Hausman reports on their concerns, and why state regulators say they have nothing to fear.
This is part 2 of a 3 part series on the possibility of hydraulic fracturing in Virginia, and Part 3 explores the risks and rewards of using this method to extract natural gas.