What is the Big Deal About Fracking?

We’ve all heard of “fracking” (hydraulic fracturing for gas).  We’ve heard about this booming industry and how it may threaten drinking water supplies.  The lure of “energy independence” and plentiful jobs has fueled this boom, but what is the environmental and social cost?  Have we learned nothing from Fukushima?

I want to introduce you to Greg Carroll, West Virginia State Historian.  Greg has watched the growth of this industry.  He owns land near Charleston and wanted to share some of what he has seen and learned:

 “I live on a ridgetop at the end of a long road.  We have had gas wells along our road for 40 years but those were traditionally-drilled wells, not frack wells.  Fracking is somewhat newer.   There is a lot of drilling all over the Northern part of the state (West Virginia).  Hundreds of frack wells being planned or in operation.  This is a gigantic problem.  Around here you can own the land but usually you don’t own what is under the land.  Those are called “mineral rights” and they are owned by the big corporations.  If the gas company wants to build a frack well on my land they can just come and do it whether I like it or not. The mineral rights in this state are a nightmare…coal and gas and timber and railroads have been destroying areas for 150 years.

    ” The worst part is the water problems.  For each well, millions of gallons of water…YOU HEARD ME RIGHT… and 5000 pounds of chemical compounds, loaded with carcinogens like diesel fuel, benzene and hydrochloric acid and 750 others (often secret) are injected into the ground to fracture the rock.  Then 70% are pumped back out and trucked to  storage wells or open “frack ponds” which are like giant cesspools where they just sit.  (and where does the other 30% go…could it eventually pollute groundwater and wells and streams?)  I have seen actual local TV footage showing a homeowner’s tap water literally going up in flames when he strikes a match next to it.  Methane gas in the well water.