In Michigan, in May of 2010, conversation about hydrologic fracturing of shale -- or fracking -- to obtain natural gas -- exploded. At that time, gas companies became interested in Michigan land, particularly land in northwest Michigan. The state began auctioning leases to state-owned land, more leases than had been auctioned in the previous 80 years combined, said Grenetta Thomassey, program coordinator at Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council in Petoskey. 

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