Authors: Martin, Jake. Nathan, Max. Schmidt, Austin.
Social Impacts
While hydraulic fracking is a relatively new way of obtaining energy, it is becoming one of the United States largest energy producer. Hydraulic Fracking is described as “Fracking is a process for extracting natural gas from shale layers typically thousands of feet deep. These targeted shales aren’t especially permeable, meaning most of the gas is trapped” (Schrope). This article describes the current pros and cons of fracking while also showing future concerns with this new method of obtaining natural gas.
According to Yale School of Forestry and Environmental studies, fracking is a large topic in which many people have different opinions but in many cases these opinions are incorrect. One main topic to the issues that comes along with hydraulic fracking is its correlation to well water. Well water is correlated with hydraulic fracking because both are done at extreme depths under the earth’s floor. While these fluids are pumped into the group for hydraulic fracking many cases show that it can contaminate the water near a well. While this is an enormous problem there is an under lying problem of fracking sites and how they are located. Stated by Yale school of forestry and environmental studies, “In most cases, fracking operations are in less affluent rural areas where citizens often rely on private wells and have fewer resources to address water supply problems or to fight against companies they feel may be responsible”(Schrope). This example shows that hydraulic fracking companies are targeting small rural areas in order to take advantage of the gas beneath these less developed communities.
In addition to the problems with fresh water wells there is an occurring problem with hydraulic fracking sites. A rising issue is what happens to these fracking sites when they are done with and dried up. For example, “A related issue is that in some fracking regions, oil and natural gas drilling has been going on for decades or even a century, leaving a legacy of over 150,000 abandoned wells scattered about Pennsylvania alone.” (Schrope). This example of gas drilling shows the environmental impact that these sites have even years after the drilling has been done. An even more important issue is the methane that lurks and creeps into these old drilling sites that later lead to more contamination of wells and fresh water.
As hydraulic fracking continues to become a larger and larger environmental topic it will need more explaining of the truth. Fracking will continue to be used in the further future and it is crucial that people know what is actually happening in these hydraulic fracking communities.
Social Impacts in Texas
“In Texas, private gas pipeline companies have been given the right of eminent domain by state statute which in practicality allows them to lay lines where ever they choose. That interstate pipeline companies have the power of eminent domain is established in federal law” (Rahm 2011). The case in Texas has most certainly become the most widely known throughout the news and media. There are issues of social justice in Texas because these companies have eminent domain and essentially can drill wherever they want. This means that people will suffer from the harmful effects of fracturing and will not be able to do anything about it. In texas there is a major lack in environmental regulation, and essentially money controls everything. The government, federal government, and the major corporations argue that there are major economic impacts.
“Texas blood and urine samples taken from residents living near Barnett Shale gas wells revealed that 65% of households tested had toluene in their systems and another 53% had detectable levels of xylene”(Rahm 2011). It is clear that there are serious impacts on the ground water and disposal of wastes, which leads to human consumption. This statistic is proof that there are very dangerous impacts, and there is not a lot people can do about it.
Source
Schrope, Mark. “Fracking Out Paces Science on Its Impact.” Fracking Out Paces Science on Its Impact. Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. <http://environment.yale.edu/envy/stories/fracking-outpaces-science-on-its-impact>.
Rahm, Dianne. “Energy Policy.” Regulating Hydraulic Fracturing in Shale Gas Plays: The Case
of Texas (2011): 2974-981. Sceince Direct. Department of Political Science, Texas State
University. Web. <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421511001893>
Hydraulic Fracturing 