If you follow the news on the development and production of natural gas and oil from shale rock buried deep underground, you have probably seen or read stories about the potential risks to fresh water supplies posed by hydraulically fracturing (“fracing”) and producing shale gas.  You may have heard that the New York State Legislature has imposed a temporary ban on shale gas development anywhere in the watershed to New York City, and that other states and the federal government are contemplating similar measures aimed at protecting our fresh water supplies and public health.   You may also have heard anecdotes about people living near shale development areas, who one day found their water contaminated by methane or other pollutants.  And,