Hydrofracking is an extremely controversial issue. It is a process used to extract natural gas from shale formations, and it has been around for some time but only has suddenly gotten attention in the past decade. The process consists mostly of water and sand which are injected into the formations and they are cracked in order for natural gas resources to be captured on the surface. Natural gas burns cleaner than coal, and it has provided the US with plentiful and cheap fuel. Many key shale formations are in the Appalachian region of the US. However, chemicals can be released into the environment and often times drinking water is contaminated.

The NRDC opposes the increase in fracking until better precautions are in effect. Fracking utilizes a significant amount of water, and in many cases it could take millions of gallons of water to frack just one well. Much of this water eventually is contaminated with sand and harmful chemicals. Disposal of this water is when it can make a negative environmental impact. This waste water has been disposed improperly like dumping it into sewer systems or into local streams. The methane gas and other chemicals are said to have in some cases moved into water tables.

The environmental threat from hydrofracking is quite present, but the EPA has done extensive research and has only come across one case of fracking water migration at a site in Wyoming. So is it possible that hydrofracking has the potential to be done safely? That can only occur when the fracking industry has a widespread understanding of the safety measures necessary.

http://www.energyfromshale.org/hydraulic-fracturing/how-hydraulic-fracturing-works?gclid=CJ7S2qOa7bUCFYtxOgodjX4A6Q

http://www.nrdc.org/energy/gasdrilling/?gclid=CPCGhaWa7bUCFYWo4Aod_S0AfA

http://www.policymic.com/articles/10408/hydrofracking-fact-and-fiction-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-controversial-practice