In 2011, the Obama administration's science advisory Board on fracking recommended the maintenance of unique and sensitive areas as off limits to exploration and support facilities. In keeping with this moderate guideline, unclean fracking should not be permitted near the national parks, nationwide forests or in watersheds that supply consumption water (Delaney & Tim 66)
Pollution from Fracking enters waters at various points in the process like leaks and spills, well blowouts, methane and other pollutants escaping from the well bore into land water, and the long-term migration of underground pollutants. Handling of harmful fracking waste returning to the outer lining land after fracking a well introduces higher possibilities for contamination of drinking water (Hilyard 49)
Water has been harvested unlawfully for fracking numerous times, to the extent of sources being pulled dry. Two sources in southwestern; Cross Stream and Sugarcamp Run, were allegedly cleared for withdrawal of water for fracking, leading to killing of fish (Kutz & Ali 30)
This is regardless of the lesser amount of carbon contamination produced when shale gas is burnt off. Vitally, this also represents that market shale gas would take demand for non-renewable energy, not supplement it; if such displacement does not happen, then the environmental impact would be far more intense (Lind 92)
The substances used to make fracking liquids are far from safe. Researchers have found that 25% of fracking substances could cause cancer; 37% could affect the hormonal system; 40 to 50% could affect the nervous, immune and heart systems, and more than 75% could damage respiratory system and sensory organs (Levi 61)
If companies are not required to expose the full list of substances used, evaluating potential short- and long-term effects on public wellness will be difficult. Research shows that approximately 40 -- 50% could affect the brain/nervous system, cardiovascular and immune systems, and the kidneys; 37% could affect the hormonal system, and 25% could cause mutations and cancer (McKinney, Michael, Robert & Logan 66)
Several substances were also discovered to be ate levels that could cause nasty smells. Air tracking in Illinois has also discovered raised stages of VOC), some of which are also dangerous air pollutants -- at the border of gas fracking locations (Roberts 81)
Effective measures of noise abatement will closeness to places, or wildlife environments are a consideration. It is approximated that each well pad would require 800 to 2,500 days of loud action during pre-production, covering ground works and road development as well as the gas fracking procedure (Rom 43)
Hydraulic fracking is a technology that was first employed more than 50 years ago. Today, it is being used in an estimated 90% of gas and oil wells in the northeast region of the United States (Newton 56)
But a ballot measure (Ballot Question 300) to prevent fracking in the city will be voted on in November, 2012; it would also prohibit the storage of fracking waste in the city. Conservationists in Colorado are calling for a 1,000-foot "…buffer that offers presumptive protection from public health and safety risks" (Berwyn, 2012)
Another problem related to fracking in Colorado is the enormous amount of water that is needed to conduct the fracking operations. Every well that is tapped through fracking requires "1 million to 5 million gallons of water," according to John McGee, water manager for the City of Loveland, Colorado (Finley, 2012)
Colorado and Fracking Issues Meanwhile, in Longmont, Colorado, citizens have organized against continued fracking in their community. The citizens became involved when fracking of a gas well was occurring within 360 feet of Trail Ridge Middle School, and for "…at least three years, the ground water around the well was contaminated with carcinogens such as benzene, which was measured at almost 100 times the state limit" (Hooper, 2012)
Fluids are injected to open up fissures to the oil and gas may flow more freely from the formations. "A number of these fluids qualify as hazardous materials and carcinogens, and are toxic enough to contaminate groundwater resources" (Sumi, 2005)
It is thought to be 5,000 below the surface (within the range for hydrofracking), and covers and estimated 150,000 square miles that incorporates five states (New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and West Virginia). "In New York, Marcellus Shale underlies much of the Southern Tier, stretching from Chautauqua and Erie Counties in the west to the counties of Sullivan, Ulster, Greene and Albany in the east, to the approximate location of the east-west portion of the New York State Thruway between Schenectady and Auburn" (Lee et al
: 6). A professional legal journal has contributed to the concerns in its own way, even though they presented their information presumably to help attorneys get ready for the business that might head their way (Pernicorn, 2012)
This amount of resource is thought to be sufficient to bring about a viable alternative to oil-based fuels since, in addition to being cleaner, it is less expensive and easier to handle, assuming that one believes what opponents or proponents of the process say. Pros and cons of corporate development of Marcellus? Those who favor the use of hydrofracking often do so because they believe it is practical and worth the return on the investments, even if some of the costs may be high in terms of health and environmental concerns (Reinhart, 2011:2)
. Even though the prices of gas may not come down, shale gas is capable of securing energy supplies, (Kevin A. Hassett, Aparna Mathur, 2013)
The first is that the public perception of fracking remains mixed. While some certainly appreciate the economic benefits of this new resource, as it has revitalized fossil fuel industries in America that were on decline (Brown, 2014) and provided new investment in Kansas, many others perceive that the benefits outweigh the risks
There are different schools of thought with respect to this, from the Milton Friedman view that business exists to earn profits to the view that corporations should take into account the interests of all stakeholders. The geologic setting of the fracking industry is complex (Evans & Newell, 2013), so cause and effect will never be easy to determine, but the industry has a responsible to safeguard against risk, or risk that the government will impose tight restrictions on this form of economic activity
It is possible that the newest measures will simultaneously curtail job growth in the industry and earthquakes. There are also disputes between different levels of government with respect to regulation, which is another issue that business needs to consider (Negro, 2012)