No Evidence of Groundwater Contamination From Fracking

The economic benefits of the shale gas boom outweigh unproven risks

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Mr. Simmons artfully misdirects the reading audience and avoids the real water problem associated with this technology. After the chemically tainted water is pumped into the well to do it's fracturing job, it is partially pumped out again. The water will have picked up additional contaminants (including radioactive materials) from the wells. What will the drillers do with the millions of gallons of contaminated water which will be produced with each drilling project? Municipal sewage treatment plants cannot deal with this level and type of contamination. Unless the drillers can demonstrate their ability to purify the water they use to the level it was previously, this process should be banned by state and local authorities.

Another water related problem is the transportation of clean water to the drilling sites and the transportation of the dirty water from those sites. Our roads and bridges are already in a sad state of disrepair, and these thousands of truck trips will only make them worse. Specific impact fees must be levied on the drillers to allow for the repair of these roads.

Michael O'Hara of NY 12:52PM November 29, 2011

Just note that almost all of the people who are saying it is safe are industry hacks, including the author of this article who worked for ALEC (See the site ALEC Exposed). Most scientists and citizens are clear on the fact that fracking is terrible for public health and the environment.

Jesse Taylor of WA 12:50PM November 29, 2011

"No Evidence of Groundwater Contamination From Fracking" This statement is a common response from those working in the industry. Tell that to the people living where drilling is occurring and you will get a much different response.

We would all love to have this be a cleaner, safer more profitable energy source. Maybe if the greedy people at the top would invest some of the billions of profits reported into "getting it right" we would all be able to profit. But until that day comes, with the geography debate in PA it must stop. This is an industry that is the same as the tobacco industry. "It's safe and doesn't cause cancer"

May I invite any of these industry people to come to Dimock and have a nice tall glass of frack water they expect the people there to drink. They refuse for a good reason.....It's unsafe. Yet they expect us to all believe it's safe and there is no proof of contamination from fracking. Maybe the process of fracking itself is not the problem, but the entire process has had many negative effects here in PA. Much of it irresponsible and irreversible. Do they care? I guess not because Plastic Water Buffaloes are the new species of Buffalo here and growing dotting the landscape everywhere drilling is progress. 65 years ago, that is shallow well drilling, Much different than the process today. Lies and denial. The industry would never admit to all the negative impacts would they? If they were to be regulated like the rest of us in this country they would not be in business. It comes down to money and greed. Something we are becoming very famous for in this country. The oil and gas industry is holding us hostage and it will not end until it is stopped and only allowed to start again when they can "do it right" The prof of negative impacts is there. Unfortunately it is growing every day and you don't have to go far to find it. Problem is they have all the money and we get stuck with the burden of proof. There is something very wrong with this picture. Sick children, pets, cattle, horses. Water and air contamination very real and very serious. Until the industry can admit their mistakes it will continue to destroy what ever stands in it's way.

Briget of PA 12:46PM November 29, 2011

According to testimony of the EPA chief there is no evidence that Fracking has contaminated drinking water and with advances in technology I suspect that that will continue to be the case. If the Pseudo- Environmentalist are really concerned about the environment, perhaps they should turn their collective attention to Cuba and China drilling off of the coast of Florida. I think this is yet another example of over-reach by the Federal Government and this has to stop...come on 2012!

Dennis Vergason of NY 12:14PM November 29, 2011

Matter of time? This process has been around for more than fifty years. Dozens of state officials have already testified that they can manage the process safely. This latest campaign by EPA is fear mongering at its worst.

MLR of VA 11:47AM November 29, 2011

Matter of time? This process has been around for more than fifty years. Dozens of state officials have already testified that they can manage the process safely. This latest campaign by EPA is fear mongering at its worst.

MLR of VA 11:44AM November 29, 2011

It's only a matter of time before more substantive data on contamination comes out. As the practice spreads across the nation, more stringent assessments will be required. Two weeks ago the EPA published initial findings of methane and hydrocarbon migration into local drinking supplies in Wyoming. The site is being considered for Superfund remediation.

http://www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/wy/pavillion/

Judy of NY 9:03AM November 29, 2011

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