Debate over gas drilling in Ohio draws crowd

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — A debate over a natural gas drilling technique gaining attention as drillers eye a lucrative shale formation drew a large crowd at an Ohio forum.

The underground rock formation known as the Marcellus Shale stretches under Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Ohio and is estimated to contain massive amounts of natural gas.

The Akron Beacon Journal reports that about 280 people attended a forum at a northeastern Ohio middle school Thursday to hear speakers debate the method for extracting the gas.

In the process known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking, large amounts of water and sand and some chemicals are blasted into rocks to fracture them and free the gas.

Opponents say fracking could contaminate drinking water while industry experts say the technique is proven and doesn’t pose a threat.