FRACKING/OIL AND GAS COMPANIES
The obvious group would be fracking companies; they run a business and they are trying to make money. They have suffered a lot of negative publicity through films, such as Gasland, and widespread claims that fracking is inexorably linked to water quality degradation. These corporations are now struggling to play catchup and convince Americans that fracking is not a nightmarish process that contaminates drinking water. Among those corporations leading the charge is Halliburton. According to them, fracking will produce millions of jobs and billions in government revenue while ensuring that standards are met for environmental safety. Similarly, America’s Natural Gas Alliance states that natural gas is the path to a better energy future for the US with benefits in the economic, transportation, and safety sectors.
In support of their belief that fracking should be legal and expanded, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) claims that the EPA did not find a single contaminated drinking well due to fracturing fluid injection in 2004. Additionally, the IOGCC is not aware of any cases where drinking water has been contaminated. However, they did not reference the fact that in at least five states, including Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia, gas from an undetermined source has leaked into drinking water supplies
The obvious group would be fracking companies; they run a business and they are trying to make money. They have suffered a lot of negative publicity through films, such as Gasland, and widespread claims that fracking is inexorably linked to water quality degradation. These corporations are now struggling to play catchup and convince Americans that fracking is not a nightmarish process that contaminates drinking water. Among those corporations leading the charge is Halliburton. According to them, fracking will produce millions of jobs and billions in government revenue while ensuring that standards are met for environmental safety. Similarly, America’s Natural Gas Alliance states that natural gas is the path to a better energy future for the US with benefits in the economic, transportation, and safety sectors.
In support of their belief that fracking should be legal and expanded, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) claims that the EPA did not find a single contaminated drinking well due to fracturing fluid injection in 2004. Additionally, the IOGCC is not aware of any cases where drinking water has been contaminated. However, they did not reference the fact that in at least five states, including Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia, gas from an undetermined source has leaked into drinking water supplies
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
Environmentalists represent another major constituent. Many agencies and individuals oppose fracking due to its severe ecological impacts. Drilling companies are not legally required to list the chemical compounds used in the fracking process. This poses many threats to humans as well as wildlife since there is no documentation of hazards that are potentially absorbed into biological systems. Additionally, streams and soil are contaminated and wastewater, radioactive material, and hazardous waste are disposed of improperly. Cleaning these spills up is extremely expensive, as well. Additionally, toxic mud and byproducts are common. In Pennsylvania, 259 out of more than 8,000 abandoned wells were plugged in 2009 due to leaking natural gas, oil, and acid mine drainage into groundwater, surface water, and the atmosphere . Lastly, some companies in Pennsylvania were charged with illegal water withdrawals and operating without permits.
Environmentalists represent another major constituent. Many agencies and individuals oppose fracking due to its severe ecological impacts. Drilling companies are not legally required to list the chemical compounds used in the fracking process. This poses many threats to humans as well as wildlife since there is no documentation of hazards that are potentially absorbed into biological systems. Additionally, streams and soil are contaminated and wastewater, radioactive material, and hazardous waste are disposed of improperly. Cleaning these spills up is extremely expensive, as well. Additionally, toxic mud and byproducts are common. In Pennsylvania, 259 out of more than 8,000 abandoned wells were plugged in 2009 due to leaking natural gas, oil, and acid mine drainage into groundwater, surface water, and the atmosphere . Lastly, some companies in Pennsylvania were charged with illegal water withdrawals and operating without permits.
LOCAL RESIDENTS
Land-owners and private citizens in regions with high fracking-well density frequently oppose fracking nearby. The threats to their private water resources, the threats that large companies may pose to small, private landowners, and the lack of permanent involvement in the community all cause many citizens to feel strongly about fracking. As a result, numerous organizations, including Americans Against Fracking (http://www.americansagainstfracking.org/) and the Marcellus Protest (http://www.marcellusprotest.org/) are vehemently opposed to fracking in their region or in the nation as a whole. They write letters to senators, voice their views and town meetings, and even physically protest in front of fracking company headquarters. Americans Against Fracking defines their position as follows:
“Fracking and drilling associated with fracking pose a direct and immediate threat to the drinking water, air, climate, food, health and economies of communities across the United States. Americans Against Fracking is comprised of entities dedicated to banning drilling and fracking for oil and natural gas in order to protect our shared vital resources for future generations.”
Other groups, such as the city of Pittsburgh which instituted a city-wide ban on fracking in 2010, have similar concerns. Councilmembers have spoken and voiced concerns over fracking companies taking advantage of the people of Pittsburgh in the name of profits. Those who support the ban argue that the natural rights of Pittsburghers to have clear-cut property ownership and the right to clean drinking water are being violated by gas corporations. Accordingly, this ban, one of the first in the nation at a city-wide level, is designed to protect the rights of Pittsburgh’s citizens from the gas companies that many policy-makers believe threaten them.
However, this by no means represents the opinions of all residents of areas with fracking operations. For example, in Northwest Louisiana, over 75% of residents believed that fracking in the area had benefited the local economy and reduced the negative impacts of the recession. This included benefits to all facets of the community, from improving infrastructure to increasing individual resident wealth.
Land-owners and private citizens in regions with high fracking-well density frequently oppose fracking nearby. The threats to their private water resources, the threats that large companies may pose to small, private landowners, and the lack of permanent involvement in the community all cause many citizens to feel strongly about fracking. As a result, numerous organizations, including Americans Against Fracking (http://www.americansagainstfracking.org/) and the Marcellus Protest (http://www.marcellusprotest.org/) are vehemently opposed to fracking in their region or in the nation as a whole. They write letters to senators, voice their views and town meetings, and even physically protest in front of fracking company headquarters. Americans Against Fracking defines their position as follows:
“Fracking and drilling associated with fracking pose a direct and immediate threat to the drinking water, air, climate, food, health and economies of communities across the United States. Americans Against Fracking is comprised of entities dedicated to banning drilling and fracking for oil and natural gas in order to protect our shared vital resources for future generations.”
Other groups, such as the city of Pittsburgh which instituted a city-wide ban on fracking in 2010, have similar concerns. Councilmembers have spoken and voiced concerns over fracking companies taking advantage of the people of Pittsburgh in the name of profits. Those who support the ban argue that the natural rights of Pittsburghers to have clear-cut property ownership and the right to clean drinking water are being violated by gas corporations. Accordingly, this ban, one of the first in the nation at a city-wide level, is designed to protect the rights of Pittsburgh’s citizens from the gas companies that many policy-makers believe threaten them.
However, this by no means represents the opinions of all residents of areas with fracking operations. For example, in Northwest Louisiana, over 75% of residents believed that fracking in the area had benefited the local economy and reduced the negative impacts of the recession. This included benefits to all facets of the community, from improving infrastructure to increasing individual resident wealth.