Hydro-fracking is the act of using millions of gallons of water mixed with sand and chemicals under the surface of the earth. The pressure from the water causes the rock layers to crack and allows natural gas to flow up to the surface. The sand and chemicals are used to keep the cracks open. Due to hydro-fracking we are able to collect natural gas, which are clean energy substitutes to what we are currently using. Therefore it is best to allow hydro-fracking to progress.
Given the resources we currently have at our disposal and our societies dependence on gas, hydro-fracking is the best method of extracting gas and it contains many advantages. One such advantage is the minimized dependency on foreign fuels. Since we are drilling in the U.S. this will in the future allow us to be more dependent in our energy needs and won’t be controlled by the regulations and prices set up by foreign countries. Also, since we are focusing on the U.S. we are employing U.S. citizens to work and enabling the job market, and in turn boosting the economy.
There have also been issues brought forth that hydro-fracking is polluting drinking water. Hydro-fracking procedures occur thousands of miles under the ground, further than publicly used drinking wells, so the affects are minimal. Also, since hydro-fracking involves mainly water and sand there isn’t much detriment introduced to the drinking water quality. The chemicals used in the process constitutes about .5 to 1% of the water and most of the chemicals aren’t detrimental to humans.
In essence hydro-fracking isn’t bad or harmful to the population. The issue is with no presence of created regulations for “the disposal of wastewater extracted from natural gas extraction activities.” As a result, “some shale gas wastewater is transported to treatment plants (publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) or private centralized waste treatment facilities (CWTs)), many of which are not properly equipped to treat this type of wastewater. While there are no current rules to abide by to regulate the disposal of wastewater:
“In October 2011 as part of the CWA section 304(m) planning process, we announced a schedule to develop standards for wastewater discharges produced by natural gas extraction from underground coalbed and shale formations. To ensure that these wastewaters receive proper treatment and can be properly handled by treatment plants, we will gather data; consult with stakeholders, including ongoing consultation with industry; and solicit public comment on a proposed rule for coalbed methane in 2013 and a proposed rule for shale gas in 2014.”
Therefore, the EPA is making movements to rectify the absence of rules and regulations and it will one to two years more for that to occur. When that time comes though, there are efforts to minimize the unsupervised damage that will occur without these rules. According to the New York Times, Governor Cuomo “is pursuing a plan to limit the controversial drilling method known as hydraulic fracturing to portions of several struggling New York counties along the border with Pennsylvania, and to permit it only in communities that express support for the technology.” Once the government can set up guidelines for hydro-fracking, the evils of these techniques will diminish and the public will see the benefits of hydro-fracking.
Environment Protection Agency. Environment Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/hydraulicfracture/#uic. December 1st 2012.
Hakim, Danny. New York Times.http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/nyregion/hydrofracking-under-cuomo-plan-would-be-restricted-to-a-few-counties.html?_r=0. June 13th 2012. December 1st 2012.
