Regarding the letter by geologist Charles H. Shultz (“Anti-frack nonsense,” April 8).

As every resident of our region knows, fracking is a fairly recent technology. It takes place 5,000 feet or deeper below the surface where the effects of tectonic movement and chemical processes are imperfectly known. They might not occur instantly. Some of the consequences of fracking, therefore, might not become apparent until several decades from now.

Moreover, it would be naive to expect that, if adverse consequences should become apparent, a gas company promptly halted its operation and alerted whatever authorities are charged with its supervision.

Lastly, it stands to reason the supervisors aren’t omniscient or omnipotent either.

Scepticism is amply justified. Two or three generations ago, there was coal mining all over our region. Did anybody at that time warn us that in the future our tap water would be contaminated, poisonous to fish and nauseating to humans, or that we would have to buy our drinking water at the grocery store? Surely not. Yet to the writer, concern for future generations and their environment is “the ultimate scare tactic cliche.”

I am one of many who appreciate the writer’s publications on the geology of our region. But his current tirade is nothing better than prejudicial polemics.