Northern Michigan is known for its vast area's of undeveloped land. If you look on the map you will see M-32 & M-33 as really the only major highways through and around the Atlanta area.
This is precisely why I made my life here.  I will admit, I ran from the city noise and caos of the suburbs, as many of us have.

Mentally, when we think of forests or rural America as a place void from industry with exceptions to rural towns that make their livelyhood from a local manufacturer.  Often that business is the sole reason for the existence of that town.
The noise from the plant is tolerated. It is where they earn their living, and those that do not want to live near the noise of the plant will live outside of that audible area, often zoned to ensure peace and quiet.
Zoning laws were made to allow the plant to operate, thus the reason for the industrial zoning laws. They are in place to contain various conditions to ensure a harmony or happy medium to the entire community and whatever industry that may be there.   

We get tickets and fines for noisy exhausts on automobiles.  Even barking dogs are addressed by zoning laws that in some areas even forbid to have an outdoor animal. These are there so we can coexist in as placid environment as possible.
If I were to mow my lawn at 3 o'clock in the morning, I'd not only get a citation from the county Sheriff, but possibly get a bullet into my lawn mower from a disgruntled neighbor. And I wouldn't blame 'em a bit. 

The gas and oil industry have been placing compressors in area's zoned for non-industry at many well-heads mostly on state-land this past year or so. These are not the compressor stations that have also destroyed many a dream for some people. They are compressors at the individual well-head with no sound walls or barriers.

(Duely noted, compressor stations have done a recongnizable effort to keep the sound to a minimum with the use of very well  insulated facilities. A gallant attempt yes,, but still not satisfactory to many who live near them.)
     
Yet, even though these pieces of industrial equipment continually pump the needed raw fuel into the pipeline, our DEQ does not recognize these machines as industrial equipment. Thereofore void of any local or state zoning ordinances.  
    As far as the sound, it seems a "recognized environmental group" got together with the state to come up with a decible level of 45 @ 1/4 mile.  
That level is to be comparible with what a neighbors lawn mower would sound like.  Isn't that nobel of them??  But hey?!?  My nieghbors don't mow their flippin lawn at 3 in the morning you schmucks!  And I am being rather forgiving in my description. If you think this is a rash way to convey my thought,,  tough.  You aren't the one who can't sleep, who's refuge, my home has been devalued by the noise of these things. I live in the woods of Atlanta, with only one house between me and the next community, some 5 miles away.  The sounds outside my door, that permeate through my walls of my home make it seem like I am in Detroit.  Well, I've not!
   As far as the accidents that flirt with causing environmental and public harm,,, its up to the honesty of the producing company to report any accidents or boo-boo's to the DEQ.  Much go on unreported. The DEQ has basically approx. 3 or so persons to oversee and investigate the Industry practices in this immediate area consisting of well over 7,000 wells.
   
THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO HANDLE. And the Oil & Gas Industry knows it,,, as well as our DEQ.   Funny kinda,, I see an oxymoron in that name.
Department of Environmental Quality.  Ha!  No wonder why Act 61 of the late 30's was trashed. (the original Act)  It made too much sense because it looked out for the people AND the environment. It was written with good common sense, not a jumble of judicial jargon as most laws are written with today.  Merely to confuse the public, as well as other legislators.

Gene Shoquist of the DEQ is a superwoman in my eyes.  I must commend her for her genuine concern for when I myself called to complain about the noise in my backyard from State Leased well compressors.  She took interest to the best of her ability and what authority was given to her. The proper people were notified and action as attempted, but the result is not even recognized by myself because I am still awakened at 3am by the droning and wailing of these damned compressors.
Gene, with all due respect. You are what some may call a 'Patsy'.   Your bosses in the DEQ know full well that you cannot possibly police the gas and oil industries activities because its just too massive for a 1 person with some helpers to oversee effectively.
That,, in combination with the reality that the laws that are in place tie your hands to what you know needs to be done,, but just don't have the authority to really execute true action at the atrosities that are continually occuring by this industry that profits literally billions of dollars. Often at the expense of individuals as myself, and the environment that is everso fragile.  No environmental impact studies are being done to really see how our woods are being affected either by burst pipelines (I've got pictures),,  leaky pipelines (I've got pictures) and blairing compressors with exaust mufflers the size of a trash can. (yes,  I've got pictures of those too)

I would like to beg, that should anyone be of influence to correct this wrong, please do so. The gas & oil is needed, that is a given. But the means of extracting it are completely archaic to the technology that is out there to make it both environmentally friendly, as well as to be friendly to the neighbors around or effected by it.  I am not the only person who is screaming in silence over what is trashing our beloved woodlands here in NE Michigan. People from out of state have written to the Montmorency Tribune, voicing what they see, the cause and effect and what is at stake in the long run. Obviously I'm not the only one who has been affected.

Pete Hanson - Atlanta