Sandra Steingraber’s series of columns in Orion magazine on the notorious practice of hydrofracturing for natural gas (“fracking”) is a must read. In late October, Orion hosted a live conversation on this topic and invited readers and activists to join in.

Listen here as Sandra reads a passage on fracking from her forthcoming book, and then hear reactions from the group. Many good points were raised and thorny questions about fracking answered.

If you haven’t yet, take ten minutes to read her first two columns on fracking and leave your thoughts in the discussion section: Shale Game and The Whole Fracking Enchilada.

Recommended Reading & Resources:

Earthworks’ Oil and Gas Accountability Project

Orion’s resources and articles mini-site on coal-bed methane gas drilling prevalent in the West

Landman Report Card shares resources for how to proceed when a landman, a gas company rep interested in leasing a landowner’s property, visits

Oil and Gas Pollution Fact Sheet

The People’s Oil & Gas Summit is being held in in Pittsburgh on November 19th and 20th, 2010. Numerous topics including landowner rights and environmental impacts will be covered.