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The Pros And Cons Of Fracking

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eople and society thrive off of a good economy when there is energy, business, or good markets, yet when the means of production (Bourgeoisie) interferes with the proletariats (working class) negatively, then problems arise. This is what is happening with hydraulic fracturing in America in relation to air pollution and the rate of which emissions are being released into the atmosphere. “The hydraulic fracturing water cycle describes the use of water in hydraulic fracturing, from water withdrawals to make hydraulic fracturing fluids, through the mixing and injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids in oil and gas production wells, to the collection and disposal or reuse of produced water” (EPA). In this operation, methane is being released in …show more content…

For example, “Given too that UGOD (unconventional gas and oil development) is exempt from other federal provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA), Clean Air Act (CAA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as well as several Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations related to hazardous waste disposal, the degree of water and soil contamination caused by fracking is largely unknown to the public” (Ladd, Anthony., York, Richard pg. 6). The issue with fracking is that the process can be done in a cleaner matter, yet fracking is exempt from multiple federal environmental regulations and legislation because there isn’t scientific evidence that proves that hydraulic fracturing is dangerous and harms the environment, according to politicians. It is our hope that politicians will review this letter to understand that the EPA has announced its findings that hydraulic fracturing is contaminating the atmosphere and underground water aquifers. During the process of hydraulic fracturing, “3.6-7.2 percent of all methane gas obtained from the fracking process is lost into the atmosphere via the well completion and transportation” (Tollefson). The mining of the well is the main contributer to the 1.9% of released methane emissions, which is why some scientists believe conventional gas is better than fracking for shale gas. Yet the issue is that there is so much shale gas to be harvested from shale formations that the economic difference is worthwhile. A comparison of conventional gas vs shale gas is represented below in table

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Natural gas is said to be the fuel of the recent future but at this point in time it as a resource that is quickly dwindling. A process called hydraulic fracturing or fracking is being used to access hidden reserves of gas in shale deposits under the ground. The process of fracking isn't new, but is being used more frequently and in more areas as easy-to-access deposits run out. This is where the dispute comes in; is the economic gains of fracking worth the environmental harm it causes? Fracking is too dangerous to risk when finding ways to access natural gas because it can affect water sources, has long lasting effects on the environment, and ruins areas surrounding the well site.

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One of the most heated debates in the political and environmental areas is the debate over hydraulic fracturing, or more its more colloquial term “fracking”. Fracking is the process by which normally inaccessible hydrocarbon deposits are made available. First a well is drilled down vertically, once the pipe has reached the shale it begins to bore horizontally for thousands more feet. Then, a combination of water, sand, and various chemicals are pushed out of the pipe at up to 9000 pounds per square inch. This frees the natural gas (a hydrocarbon) to then be pumped to the surface.

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Two parties make up the fracking debate: the proponents and the critics. Very little of a middle ground is present in this conversation; the opinions appear to be very polarized with strong convictions. The advocates of fracking believe the procedure can relieve dependence on foreign oil, vitalize local economies, is safer than other methods of oil and gas extraction, and that it occurs so deep underground it is nearly impossible for it to affect groundwater or drinking water. In contrast, opponents argue that fracking can pollute their water, its runoff emissions are hazardous, the trucks needed to operate this procedure disturb the local ecosystem’s carbon levels, and that people have little say in these operations. Both sides provide legitimate arguments; however, the consequences of fracking are far more significant than the so-called benefits.

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Even though hydraulic fracturing allows access to more gas and oil, it should be banned because it uses harmful chemicals, pollutes water, causes earthquakes, and is affecting wildlife. While fracking has been going on for many decades, these last ten years has had a spike in publicity. Accusations of hazardous chemicals being used in the waste-water solution has been flying

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For this reason, some people feel blessed that the companies started fracking in their territories. I can completely justify that because it allows people an opportunity to let their kids go to colleges, buy houses, cars, and live a luxury life which would not be possible without it. However, there is only a small number of people who were lucky enough to get the profit from that since fracking companies do everything to avoid paying people. Overall, I believe that the cost of the fracking is way too detriment and it benefits fracking companies’ considerably more than it does people who live in the areas where fracking is active. 2.

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Introduction News outlets often use cherry-picked scientific findings as a way to grant credibility to the information they are ‘reporting’, thus making it confusing to the viewer on whether the information is politically motivated or unbiased. Scientists have an invisible halo atop them in mainstream media, and they are frequently cited in regards to important policies that have significant ramifications. It’s common for media outlets and politicians to take research conducted by scientists and display it as a fact without proper context with the intention of misleading, additionally companies also regularly hire ‘scientists’ to justify that it meets proper regulations. A contemporary example of this is the manner in which hydraulic fracturing

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With that knowledge and knowing that Marcellus Shale operation planned to construct up to 200,000 new wells, means that 190,000 leaky wells could very well be in operation in one year (Nikiforuk 24). Now there are some arguing that it’s just as, if not worse than fracking. Jeff Tollefson, states that methane pollution in the air is just as bad. “[there is] hard evidence that the cleanest-burning fossil fuel might not be much better than coal when it comes to climate change” (1). He continues by saying “methane is some 25 times more efficient than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere” (2).

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Fracking within the state of New York has been cause for controversy in recent years. This fracking controversy has greatly polarized members of the communities affected with some show great support of it, and others downright despising it to the point of banning it in their communities. While fracking is quite a complex issue with many economic benefits, it’s still quite clear that the only rational stance on the issue is one of opposition. Any person who shares concerns on the future of this planet should maintain of firm opposition to fracking due to the negligence of the fracking companies harming the environment. In response to fracking supporter and Range Resources spokesman Matt Pitzarlla’s blatant dishonesty on the issue in his paraphrased

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Development was supported by a landmark study conducted by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2004 which found that hydraulic fracturing supposedly posed no threat to underground drinking water supplies. Not long afterwards, hydraulic fracturing was spared from the Safe Drinking Water Act by the Bush administration in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Since that time fracking has become the new boom industry. (Appalachian Voices, 2013) Demographics

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Everybody uses natural gas and oil, whether it is to power your house or make your car run there is gas being used somewhere. Unless there is a way for America to extract their own oil or natural gas their prices will always be high. Guess what, there is a way for America to extract natural gas and it is called Fracking! Hydraulic Fracturing or Fracking is the way of extracting natural gas and oil from the ground, but at a price. It could harm the Earth by using up a lot of the water source that we have left on the planet, and it is trapping all of the heat on the planet by a thing called the greenhouse effect.

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