As most know by now, testing has revealed the presence of shale gas deposits in the Sandhills region of North Carolina.  A map of the known and suspected deposits is at right (click to enlarge).

Since this is an issue that will occupy a portion of the General Assembly’s time this summer, and since it may well represent the beginnings of an “shale gas boom” for the Tar Heel state, the Fayetteville Observer, is initiating a six-part series on fracking.  The “master” page for the series is HERE, and the first in the series is HERE, but readers are cautioned that the Fayetteville Observer imposes a ten article per 30-day period limit against online viewers.