Hydraulic fracturing is defined as “a process used in nine out of 10 natural gas wells in the United States, where millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals are pumped underground to break apart the rock and release the gas.” Gasland is a 2010 documentary written and directed by Josh Fox in which the concept of Hydraulic fracturing is explained thoroughly. Although “fracking” seems to be a clever way to produce the natural gas that is necessary to our lives, it is producing more harm than good. We need natural gases in order to heat our homes and meet the United States’ energy demand. After watching some of the documentary, Gasland, I felt heavily impacted and saw that Hydraulic Fracturing has harmed the members of numerous communities, even causing them chronic illness. While the demand for natural gas remains consistent, many people are wondering if there is a better way to produce it.
You may be wondering what the big deal about fracking is. For now, it just seems like a distant and random concept. The truth is, according to your location it may be impacting your life everyday. The chemicals produced during the process are dangerous and even fatal. This connection begins with drinking water. When you sit down at a restaurant for a nice meal and order a water, the last thing you should be worrying about is becoming ill. Unfortunately it is a truth. The EPA recently released a report, showing that fracking had heavily contaminated Wyoming waters. This primary report sparked a lot of interest in our nation. Leading to these discoveries: Pennsylvania waters were polluted with methane, and New York state waters showed levels of radiation well above federal expectations. This information is shocking. Applying these studies and realizing that according to the wilderness society there are twenty-nine states participating in fracking in one form or another, is frightening. Aside from our water, fracking is polluting our air. Two of the necessities we need daily to survive may be killing us. According to a study done in Colorado, fracking was taking place a mere 150 feet of neighborhoods; exposing nearby residents to the future possibility of experiencing fatal illnesses such as leukemia. The study found chemicals such as xylene, ethylbenzene and toluene. Beyond our air and water, according to the wilderness society and many studies, fracking has also proven to impact global warming, wildlife, birth defects and earthquakes.
You may be wondering, if fracking is so dangerous why hasn’t the government done anything about it? Profit. The few states that have implemented rules, have loopholes within them, allowing the government to continue making profit out of being “one of the leading producers of natural gas”. There are small ways in which the public can make a difference. You can make alliances with larger companies, signing protests and supporting the cause. Companies such as Earthjustice defended communities in NY, in 2014 the states court ruled that Middlefield and Dryden could use local zoning laws to ban heavy industry. The fracking industry is beginning to see its end thanks to passion filled people and companies.