State and local officials in Pennsylvania are paving the way for extensive tapping of the Marcellus Shale. There is already evidence that Pennsylvanians are suffering from drilling. One analysis (in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 9, 2010) notes that some Pennsylvanians "can't shower or drink water from once pristine wells because the chemical runoff caused by hydraulic fracturing or 'fracking' has rendered them toxic. Before permits and other green lights create environmental hazards in populated areas, the state government should limit any fracking or similar technology for accessing natural gas to counties with fewer than 100,000 residents, and local governments in any county that wish to forbid such drilling should have the power to do so by ordinance.