Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Governing Unconventional Natural Gas at the Local Level in the United States

Abstract

While numerous studies have addressed the impact of unconventional natural gas development on communities in the United States during the initial boom period (2007 to 2014), few works synthesizing local governance issues exist. This paper aims to address the gap in the research by reviewing the literature and identifying challenges local governments encountered while attempting to govern the burgeoning industry. After conducting an integrative literature review of 43 studies, the author contends that the industry’s newness, regulatory confusion, information asymmetries, distrust of producers, conflicting interests, and ambiguous costs and benefits of extraction hindered local governments and their ability to address the industry and its impacts. The paper suggests that local officials should adopt collaborative frameworks to exchange information, establish best practices, and clarify regulatory landscapes. This study adds to the literature on local governance in communities with mineral resource extraction and provides insights for future industries or resources with local impacts.