Argument: Hydraulic fracturing uses too much water.
Fact: After
conducting some research, I found the pie graph below, provided by the joint
collaboration of the United States Department of Interior and the U.S. Geological
Survey; estimates are current as of 2005, as no new estimates have been
released. According to their estimates, mining, oil and gas account for only 1%
of the nations water consumption, a relatively small percentage of the overall
usage. Additionally, I stumbled across FracFocus whose “primary purpose is to
provide factual information concerning hydraulic fracturing and groundwater
protection. It is not intended to argue either for or against the use of
hydraulic fracturing as a technology” (http://fracfocus.org/).
They state that oil and gas operates are advocating capturing water when the
river flow is greatest according to the seasons.
Argument:
Hydraulic fracturing contaminates drinking water.
Fact: The
Environmental Protection Agency, as of April 2011, released its intent of research
under the Plan to Study the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking
Water Resources. As of September
2012, the EPA has only released its methods of research that includes: analysis
of existing data, scenario evaluations, laboratory studies, toxicity assessments,
and case studies. Though no results have been reported to the public, the goal
of their research is to “to inform the public and provide
decision-makers at all levels with high-quality scientific knowledge that can
be used in decision-making processes” regarding hydraulic fracturing. Results
from this study, which will be available for peer review and comment in 2014, will
hopefully offer greater insight into the implications hydraulic fracturing has
on drinking water. Just as a side note, in 2004, the EPA released a
report with similar aims, to determine if hydraulic fracturing contaminated drinking
water, it found no relationship between the two and declared fracking as safe.
However, according to OMB, referenced in earlier posts, this report remains
controversial as the official on the report suggested it was flawed.
Argument:
Hydraulic fracturing causes earthquakes.
On this issue, I found mixed results. According to the
United States Geological Survey, hydraulic fracturing has the potential to "causes
small earthquakes, but they are almost always too small to be a safety concern.”
However, the Environmental Protection Agency reported differently that, they
have consistently found no relationship between hydraulic fracturing and
earthquakes.
Argument: Hydraulic
fracturing and its disclosure laws and trade secrets leave something to be
desired. What’s the deal?
Fact: Hydraulic
fracturing is federally exempt from the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water
Act, which allows for trade secrets, or lack of complete disclosure of all
chemicals used in fracking fluid. This has lead to public distrust regarding
the chemicals utilized in the hydraulic fracturing process. However, the FRAC
Act, the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act, was
introduced to congress in 2009 and reintroduced in March of 2011 and aims to
remove this exemption and require full public disclosure of all chemical
additives used in the hydraulic fracturing process. However, the bill has not
been passed. On the state level, upwards of 100 bills have been introduced also
pushing for public disclosure regarding chemical additives.
About the Fracking fluid itself...
According to FracFocus, ‘fracking fluid’ is typically comprised
of 98%-99.2% water and three to twelve chemical additives, utilized for a
specific purpose (see graphic below). Specific utilizations of chemicals are “biocides
to prevent microorganism growth and to reduce biofouling of the fractures;
oxygen scavengers and other stabilizers to prevent corrosion of metal pipes;
and acids that are used to remove drilling mud damage within the near‐wellbore
area” (http://fracfocus.org/water-protection/drilling-usage).
For more, click on the link to check out health effects of the known chemicals used in fracking fluid and their use in other products, such as laxatives, electronics, soaps, textiles, and much more. http://www.hcn.org/issues/43.3/unpacking-health-hazards-in-frackings-chemical-cocktail/graphic
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