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To frack, or not to frack?

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    A look at two communities on both sides of the issue

  • Duration 3:56
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To a barrel despite fluctuating energy costs there is still much debate about whether to expand the use of fossil fuels in this country.

Tonight senior national correspondent John Roberts looks at two communities sharing a common border.

But holding vastly different views about one energy so.

Like so many small towns across America to -- Pennsylvania was reeling from a drain of its economic -- manufacturing.

That is until the gas companies came calling.

The amount of job growth has been phenomenal the amount of business growth has been phenomenal nearly 12100 wells have been drilled around this Boomtown the most in Pennsylvania.

All that new revenue -- allowed Bradford county to retire it's five million dollar debt and lower property taxes by 6%.

And it has been great for business it's Cindy Wilcox is jewelry store selling Pandit should rings only a rough -- could -- Don't worry about retirement so much anymore -- speed into power.

Vacations are better every year even a recent slowdown in -- because of rock bottom gas prices hasn't blunted the good times here.

It goes through ebbs and flow isn't it like anything else but.

By and large of a person wants a job they have a job they can go to work tomorrow morning shale gas drilling has been an economic game changer for all those little towns and villages in rural Pennsylvania that otherwise might have fallen on hard times.

But while the Marcellus Shale continues northward under ground.

The economic -- Stops right here.

New York State officials have been wringing their hands over whether to lift a four year moratorium an open parts of the southern tier including show among county to drilling a lot of this.

Land -- -- leases at all -- -- county executive Tom Sheehan Juli says it's a no brainer since he's in Elmira where unemployment is nine point 3% and all the economic indicators in the red.

We'll play we'll put people to work.

We'll lower the unemployment rate in people will be a heck of a lot more happening -- now.

But in nearby Binghamton equally hit by hard times mayor Matt Ryan a former environmental lawyer wants no part of the fracking boom.

Until it's proven environmentally sound I don't think that we should just because a few people get.

And I'll make some money off this -- down a road that we can't change.

The vocal environmental lobby wants New York -- -- that right.

Autumn -- says it's just not worth the risk she it has been Ezra grow apples to make hard cider.

Our entire business relies on -- if our water's contaminated.

Where either and shuttered business and we're gonna move out of New York State ironically.

Scotia has a conventional gas well on her farm a legacy from when her parents -- it.

While there -- no leaks.

The well is -- with problems if I had that opportunity -- That opportunity.

To -- my parents transcending marine -- -- I didn't -- there is nothing.

That's worth doing this -- are three caddies over -- John -- has a different take.

He runs a diner in Bainbridge where he says factory shutdowns have left the economy depressed.

The younger generation.

Unfortunately there are content -- But -- also hit pay dirt and the gas industry policing heavy cranes to track sites across the border in Pennsylvania gas industrialist.

-- the best opportunity.

But I've ever had.

-- would love to see his neighbors share the windfall and trusts that heavy regulations in New York State would prevent any major issues.

In Pennsylvania there have been problems one documented case of widespread water well contamination from a faulty gas well.

And of course the traffic and noise that comes from an industry in boom times.

And -- could mean it's Bradford county leaders say.

It's better than the alternative school boardroom or sitting and unemployment -- -- traffic on a decision New York State will soon have to make.

Along the Pennsylvania New York border John Roberts Fox News.

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