Austin DiBonaventure English 101 Prof.

Geisler Paper 4

Fracking Drilling Deep into the Subject

Hydraulic fracturing has many dangers that people do not know about. According to Earthworks, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting communities and the environment from the impacts of irresponsible mineral and energy development state, Hydraulic fracking has over 50 chemicals that cause 10 or more health concerns such as respiratory, skin, eyes, brain and cancer problems (Earthworks). All of the negative impacts fracking has on the people and the environment outweigh the possibility of cheaper energy; therefore, it should be banned. The debate that is happening over this topic is whether or not fracking is worth it because of all of the negative effects it has on the people and environment. Hydraulic fracturing was started in 1947 and it is the use of sand, water, and chemicals injected at high pressures to blast open shale rock and release the trapped gas inside (BBC News). People s ay that fracking makes it possible to produce natural gas extraction in shale plays that were once unreachable with conventional technologies. The companies see a huge profit and cleaner fuel

while the people in surrounding areas see fracking harmful to their health and the environment around them. Fracking has caused many drastic problems in the U.S to the environment and also the people living in nearby communities. According to Earthworks, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting communities and the environment from the impacts of irresponsible mineral and energy development, The U.S. EPA estimated that 70 to 140 billion gallons of water are used to fracture 35,000 wells in the United States each year. This is nearly the annual water consumption of up to 80 cities each with a population of 50,000. Some wells use up to 350,000 gallons of water; however, deeper wells may use up to 10 million gallons per well (Earthworks). This quote really shocked me because of the millions of gallons of water used in this process, which is This is going to have major impacts on the aquatic animals and resources along with possibly not having enough drinking water at the aquifers. It has been estimated that the transportation of a million gallons of water (fresh or waste water) requires 200 truck trips. Thus, not only does water used for hydraulic fracturing deplete fresh water supplies and impact aquatic habitat, the transportation of so much water also creates localized air quality, safety and road repair issues (Earthworks). The extreme amount of water used in fracking is only just one issue that critics are worried about. Recently, many earthquakes and seismic events have happened in towns located near fracking sites. According to Politics and Policy.org: Earthquakes are a rarity in Youngstown, Ohio but the holidays saw just such excitement as residents experienced two earthquakes, which registered 2.7 and 4.0 on the Richter scale.

The earthquakes resulted in no casualties and relatively minor damage, but the historical paucity of earthquakes in the region has led officials to question nearby fracking operations. Also, the U.S. Geological Survey has pointed to additional occurrences in the U.S, Canada and Japan as evidence that there is a link between fracking and earthquakes (Fracking: Economic Boom or Environmental Danger?). This quote just proves that fracking is causing way more problems than people imagined; therefore, it needs to be stopped because of the major damage it is causing not only to the environment but to the population.

Another major concern in the fracking industry is the health concerns to the human population. Hydraulic fracking has over 50 chemicals that cause 10 or more health concerns such as respiratory, skin, eyes, brain and cancer problems; a four million gallon fracturing operation would use from 80 to 330 tons of chemicals (Earthworks). With the use of all of these dangerous chemicals, people are becoming sick from ingesting them through their water supply and by breathing them in from the tanks at nearby sites. Ground water contamination is probably the most alarming issue with fracking. According to The Economist, A popular party trick in areas rich in natural gas is to conjure fire from water. The host lights a match, brings it close to a running tap and steps back as the trickle bursts into flames. Guests look on in amazement, possibly tinged with terror (3). What this is saying is that the fracking chemicals leak into the groundwater of nearby towns and cause them to not have drinking water. Studies

done by the Earthworks Organization show that 25-80% of the chemicals used in fracking remain in the ground. Health concerns to the population are a huge factor in why fracking should be banned in the United States. According to Paul Gallay who is the founder of the organization Riverkeeper, which is devoted to protecting the Hudson River and the drinking water supply for nine million New Yorkers Duke University recently proved that drinking water wells near fracking sites have 17 times more methane than wells not located near fracking. Fracking operations have generated billions of gallons of radiation-laced toxic wastewater that we cant manage properly and forced families to abandon their homes because of dangerous levels of arsenic, benzene and toluene in their blood (Gallay). This shows that the fracking situation in not under control and many people are suffering from this dangerous process. I would never want to have or raise a family near a fracking site people of the harmful chemicals that you can breathe in or drink because of the ground water contamination.

Not only are there risks at the fracking site but also when they transport the waste and chemicals. The significant increase in oil transportation is growing rapidly and shale oil is just proving to be more flammable as time goes on. Another day, another oil train accident, it seems. On the night of January 7, a train carrying crude oil and propane derailed near Plaster Rock in New Brunswick, Canada. A day later the fire continued as locals evacuated, unsure if they were being exposed to toxic fumes (Lohn). Not only are exploding trains a major concern but when they explode in towns or near populated areas those people are now breathing in the

toxic fumes and wastes from fracking sites. All of these things affect the environment and the people in surrounding areas. Gallay states, Road maintenance alone will cost communities up to $375 million, according to a draft report by the state Department of Transportation, since each well generates about 4,000 extra heavy truck trips (Gallay). This only shows me how communities near fracking sites will be very unpleased because of the high cost the community will be putting out to fix the roads. If I was a person living in that community I would be upset because that tremendous amount of money could be going to improve other important things in the community. On the other hand people believe that fracking will help the economy and that it is the safest way to drill for natural gas; however, I disagree completely. According to the article Benefits of Fracking, Clean-burning shale natural gas is critical to America for the manufacturing of jobs (Benefits of Fracking). This quote is completely wrong and I could not disagree more because I feel that fracking is actually decreasing more jobs in America in different industries. Joan Gralla states in the Huffington Post, Economists warn that this type of reduction in local revenues could spread throughout Louisiana as natural gas output falls, cutting more jobs and revenue (Gralla). This quote just shows that more jobs are actually being lost in other industries because of fracking. Along with all of the chemicals that are used at fracking sites that leak into the ground water, the overall health of the people in nearby towns and cities should be the main concern in this debate. There are far too many health concerns and problems with the environment;

therefore, fracking should be stopped. Hydraulic fracturing is not a safe or cleaner way to drill for natural gas and a major crackdown on this industry is way overdue.

Works Cited "Benefits of Fracking." Energy From Shale. N.p., 2013. Web. 22 Feb. 2014. "EARTHWORKS." EARTHWORKS. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. "Fracking: Economic Boom or Environmental Danger?" Politics & Policy. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. Gallay, Paul. "Fracking-A Bad Bet for the Environment and Economy." EcoWatch. N.p., 06 Jan. 2012. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.

Gralla, Joan. "Fracking States Losing Jobs And Revenue As Industry Shrinks." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 14 May 2012. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. Lohan, Tara. "The 4 Big Dangers of Fracking." RSS. N.p., 10 Jan. 2014. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014. "What Is Fracking and Why Is It Controversial?" BBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.

Austin DiBonaventure Bibliography Artz, Kenneth. "Study: Fracking Cuts Energy Costs, Raises Living Standards." Human Events. N.p., 13 Nov. 2013. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. Barras, Colin. "Fracking Hell." New Scientist 220.2947 (2013): 42-46. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. Drouin, Roger. "As Fracking Booms, Growing Concerns About Wastewater." By Roger Real Drouin: Yale Environment 360. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2014

"Benefits of Fracking." Energy From Shale. N.p., 2013. Web. 22 Feb. 2014. "EARTHWORKS." EARTHWORKS. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. FARRIS NAFF, CLAY. "Can Fracking Lead The Way To Clean Energy?." Humanist 74.2 (2014): 1319. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. "Fracking: Economic Boom or Environmental Danger?" Politics & Policy. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. "Fracking: The Dangers | Clean Water Action." Fracking: The Dangers | Clean Water Action. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.

Gallay, Paul. "Fracking-A Bad Bet for the Environment and Economy." EcoWatch. N.p., 06 Jan. 2012. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.

Gralla, Joan. "Fracking States Losing Jobs And Revenue As Industry Shrinks." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 14 May 2012. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. Heywood, Peter. "Fracking Safer And Greener?." TCE: The Chemical Engineer 850 (2012): 42-45. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. Leber, Jessica. "Studies Link Earthquakes to Wastewater from Fracking." MIT Technology Review 14 Dec. 2012: n. pag. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. <http://www.technologyreview.com/news/508151/studies-link-earthquakes-towastewater-from-fracking/>. Lohan, Tara. "The 4 Big Dangers of Fracking." RSS. N.p., 10 Jan. 2014. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. Mcdermott-Levy, Ruth, Nina Kaktins, and Barbara Sattler. "Fracking, The Environment, And Health." American Journal Of Nursing 113.6 (2013): 45-51. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Mar. 2014. ODay, Stephen. "Top Environmental Concerns in Fracking - Oil & Gas Monitor." Oil Gas Monitor. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.

"Risky Gas Drilling Threatens Health, Water Supplies." Natural Gas Drilling: Impacts of Fracking on Health, Water. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2014

Stossel, John. "Fracking Is Wonderful." Fox Business. N.p., 9 Mar. 2013. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014. "What Is Fracking and Why Is It Controversial?" BBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. Weinhold, Bob. "The Future Of Fracking." Environmental Health Perspectives 120.7 (2012): A272-A279.Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.