The Geological Survey report, said Patrick Creighton, a spokesman for the Marcellus Shale Coalition, an industry group, found that oil and gas activity affected less than 1 percent of the forest area in Allegheny and Susquehanna counties.

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Such an increase amounts to 0.16 inches per year, but the eventual impact could mean that a small storm could "do the same damage that Sandy did, " said Peter Howd, co-author of a 2012 U.S. Geological Survey report that found the rate of sea level rise had increased in the northeast.

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The government is considering an independent report on fracking, and the British Geological Survey is due to report on the UK's shale-gas resources early in the new year.

BBC: Balcombe, West Sussex

McCain said it only received the report recently and had asked geological experts to assess the contents of the report before commenting further.

BBC: Properties at Knipe Point, Scarborough

The U. S. Geological Service issued a report in April 2008 that only scientists and oil men knew was coming, but man was it big.

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But a report by the British Geological Survey to map out where Britain's gas reserves are has been commissioned by the Department of Energy.

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More extensive sampling of the dust has not found any evidence of thermite or explosives, says a report from the US Geological Survey and another from RJ Lee.

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An engineers' report on the options, and further geological studies, will be submitted to Dorset County Council's cabinet for a decision on 7 November.

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The report was carried out by Huddersfield-based engineering and geological experts Ashton Bennett.

BBC: Properties at Knipe Point, Scarborough