The Marcellus Shale that runs beneath most of Pennsylvania has been a key target for the oil and gas industry; it currently accounts for nearly 40 percent of U.S. shale gas production.
Between 2011 and 2015, the state approved more than 12,000 permits and almost 6,000 fracking wells, forever altering the landscape of northeastern and southwestern Pennsylvania.
In Pennsylvania, the gas industry has deep ties with the state’s legislators. Between 2007 and 2014, the industry reportedly gave $8 million to elected officials and spent $41 million lobbying the state legislature. A report by the Public Accountability Initiative in 2013 revealed that 45 current or former Pennsylvania state officials have ties to energy industry and fracking regulation, including 28 who ultimately traded their government positions for industry jobs.
Did You Know?
In 2015, Gov. Wolf reinstated a moratorium on new drilling in state parks, which protects about 60 percent of parklands.
Last Updated: September 29, 2015
The Fracked Fact Quiz
For More Information:
- Video: Finding Their Way
- Find Your Way: A Citizen's Tip Guide
- unEARTHED: Fighting For Your Community
- unEARTHED: Fighting Fracking: A Love Story
- unEARTHED: Towns Fight Back Against Fracking
The Fraccidents Map:
High profile incidents ("fraccidents") related to the country's oil and gas drilling boom have occurred in and around Pennsylvania. Click on each 
fraccident to learn more: