Max Karpov 3/2/2012 Conservation Issue Essay Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Extraction The Marcellus Shale is a geological

formation containing large amounts of natural gas. The formation stretches through Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and New York. In Pennsylvania it is estimated that there is close to $500 billion in recoverable natural gas deposits, and could have major economic benefits to our state for the next 20 to 50 years (Penn State 2008). In 2008, the number of active gas well sites in Pennsylvania exceeded 40,000, and was growing at about 4,000 new wells each year (Penn State 2008). The Marcellus Shale formation is, in places, thousands of feet underground, and a technique called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is used to extract these deep reserves. The process of fracking involves pumping millions of gallons of fracking fluid into the deep, horizontal shafts that were drilled into the shale veins at high pressures, in order to fracture the shale and retrieve the natural gas. The mixtures are composed mostly of water and sand, but there are many salts and chemicals added to the mixture that can be extremely dangerous. These chemicals include ethylbenzene, isopropanol, methanol, and many more chemicals which have been linked to causing cancer, kidney issues, and blindness (Myers 2012). With 20 tons of chemicals added to each million gallons, these extra components are present in much higher concentrations than typically considered safe (Myers 2012). During the period of 2009 to 2011, there have been over 20 major spills of fracking fluids and other chemicals, causing many thousands of dollars worth of damages, and contaminating many water ways (Myers 2012). Waterway contamination is not the only threat to the wildlife and fisheries resources of our state. The astonishing amount of new well sites being added to the already imposing number threatens our endangered terrestrial and flighted animals (Hurst 2011). The traffic, lights, sounds, and devastating construction threaten to shrink the habitats of many of our species, including our 10% of the national population of wood thrush (Hurst 2011). It is absolutely imperative that we

plan and assess all of the consequences of our actions before we make any moves. The economic and national security of producing our own, cleaner fuel sources can make our nation more independent and help to return our economy to its state prior to the recession. We need to make sure these companies account for their failures to safely extract this valuable resource. If we can extract the gas effectively, taking care not to spill fracking fluids, trample fragile habitats, or disrupt animal behavior with the sounds and lights of the process, the Marcellus Shale natural gas formation can be an extremely valuable resource, generating an estimated $500 billion over the next 20 to 50 years.

Works Cited Hurst, David. "Penn State Warns of Marcellus Shale's Effect on Wildlife." The Altoona Mirror 25 Mar. 2011. Print. Marcellus Shale: What Local Government Officials Need to Know. Rep. University Park: Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, 2008. Print. Myers, Robert. "The Environmental Dangers of Hydro-Fracturing the Marcellus Shale." Lock Haven University. Lock Haven University, 26 Oct. 2011. Web. 02 Mar. 2012. <http://www.lhup.edu/rmyers3/marcellus.htm>.