Hardly a week, or a day, goes by without some reports involving the Marcellus Shale gas industry in Pennsylvania. Some stories focus on the economic benefits and job-creating potential of the new industry. Other stories focus on the environmental concerns surrounding the technology of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, the process used to break apart layers of shale to release the gas. And, more recently, reports are surfacing that point to the industry's political influence, based on a dramatic increase in political contributions and lobbying in Harrisburg.

Given all the competing interests and the importance of balancing economic benefits with environmental concerns, the public should be paying close attention to everything about the Marcellus gas industry.

In the Sept. 12 Butler Eagle, a front-page story described a gas well-site reclamation field day in Forward Township that was organized by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and sponsored by Phillips Exploration, based in the RIDC Thorn Hill Industrial Park in Marshall Township, Allegheny County.

The event highlighted the potential for returning land where a gas well has been drilled to a condition that looks like it was never disturbed. But it's also important to see a drilling site when drilling and fracking are taking place.

In the past 19 months, 3,470 permits for Marcellus Shale gas drilling have been issued across the state. The industry is clearly poised to have a dramatic impact on the state, economically and environmentally.

The public's interests are best served by finding a balance between those competing interests — maximizing the benefits to landowners and the state Treasury while developing responsible environmental oversight and regulations to minimize risks to the environment, including water supplies.

So far, the two sides are painting dramatically different pictures. Opponents note risks of contamination of water supplies, truck damage to roads and risks of chemical-laden runoff of fracking water. The industry argues those dangers are exaggerated.

Because the industry is growing rapidly, regulations and tax laws are still being developed. And with politicians involved, the industry is spending money to influence the outcome.

Common Cause, a good government group, says that the natural gas industry has tripled its campaign donations in the past three years and also has spent $5 million lobbying the Legislature. It's worth looking at where that effort and money is going — to which elected officials and which groups.

In Harrisburg, ongoing debates focus on the appropriate level of taxation. A sensible tax would be in line with tax rates in neighboring states where the Marcellus gas industry also is active.

The burden is on the industry to demonstrate credibility as well as its safety and environmental records. Unbiased scientists and regulators should address the serious environmental charges such as tap water igniting, as featured in "Gasland," a controversial anti-gas-drilling documentary film.

Just this week, an independent lab reported it found fracking chemicals in well water in Dimock, Pa., where the flammable tap water segment of "Gasland" was filmed.

The industry should offer verifiable evidence of its safety record when it comes to spills and contamination of ground water or water wells.

A recent lawsuit filed by 13 families in northeastern Pennsylvania claims that Marcellus gas drilling operations contaminated their wells because defective well casing cement allowed fracking water to leak out.

The industry boasts leading-edge technology to extract gas. It should also demonstrate equally effective technology to protect public health, safety and the environment.

Pennsylvanians need to learn as much as possible about the industry, about its safety and environmental records and political spending. The industry should demonstrate its best ideas to protect human health and the environment.

It's time to pay attention — to everything involving Marcellus gas. The best outcome will be found in balancing the economic benefits with health, safety and environmental protection.