Setbacks in Oklahoma’s Oil and Gas Country, and a Family Left in the Dust

• Joe Wertz
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  Joe Wertz was a reporter and managing editor for StateImpact Oklahoma from 2011-2019. He reported on energy and environment issues for national NPR audiences and other national outlets. He previously worked as a managing editor, assistant editor and staff reporter at several major Oklahoma newspapers and studied journalism at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Joe Wertz / StateImpact Oklahoma

A cloud of dust obscures Jarod and Tanja Pachner. The couple's efforts to sell their Ellis County home were derailed by dust, noise and truck traffic from oil and gas drilling on neighboring land.

A surge in domestic drilling for oil and natural gas has left states wrestling over laws and rules governing how individuals and industry can live and work near each other. In Oklahoma, big-energy is generally considered a good neighbor. But drilling doesn’t benefit everyone.