To the Editor:
 I recently attended a meeting between the NWPOA [Northern Wayne Property Owners Alliance] and DCS [Damascus Citizens for Self-government], respectively the proponents and opponents of gas drilling in Wayne County.  The position of the NWPOA group as stated by their representatives (Jo Clearwater and Marion Schweighofer) is very clear:  They want to safeguard the drilling process through their lease agreement and will only go forward with signing leases if those safeguards are in place. 
The DCS group representatives, Joe Levine and Pat Carullo, feel that the risk of drinking water contamination (even for one farmer) is too high to go forward with any drilling at this time.  In a way the DCS position makes more sense.  If a landowner wants complete protection of thier drinking water, all regulations need to be in place at the Federal level before any drilling is done. No matter what a personal lease states, a lawsuit will not be effective against any gas company for pollution of water or air since gas companies have been federally exempt from the clean  water and air act since 2005.  Besides, what does one do once the drinking water is contaminated?
(Signed)
  Ramona Jan, Damascus, Pa.