Fracking, or
hydraulic fracturing, is the process of extracting natural gas from shale rock
layers deep within the earth. Essentially
fracking allows for the injection of highly pressurized fracking fluids into
the shale area. Creating new channels within the rock from which natural gas is
extracted more quickly than it would be otherwise.
According to the report
released by the EPA, officials said that the town of Pavillion, Wyo. had contaminations
that were most likely from the gas wells.
The area was polluted with at least 10 compounds known to be used in
frack fluids. Fracking is polluting the
water systems, but because the proof that the EPA has is inconsistent and
sparse, the fracking continues. Doug
Hock, the spokesman for Encana defends fracking to the end, "Inconsistency
in detection and non-repeatability shouldn't be construed as fact." It is
true that the evidence against fracking is weak, but there is no other
explanation. Hock is putting the blame
on Mother Nature. This debate is being
to shape up how the country will regulates and develops natural gas in the
eastern states.
Amy
Mall, a senior policy analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council, is suggesting
that higher standards and more regulations should be put into place regarding
fracking. The EPA has reported thirty-three abandoned wells that were once used
for fracking and are now polluting the shallow ground water. But they could not be responsible for the
pollution found in the monitoring wells 1,000 feet underground. More regulations
on fracking must be enforced to ensure
the safety of the citizens. In some
cases the water is reported as explosive and the citizens are provided with
replacement drinking water because the contaminated water could be detrimental to
their health. Carcinogenic chemicals
were even found in the water. The EPA also concluded that sporadic bonding
occurred in the cement in areas which led to the barrier that kept the
chemicals in their intended zone had been weakened.
"What Is Fracking." What
Is Fracking. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2012.
Your analysis includes a very accurate description of the article, providing test results and arguments from both sides of the case. I agree with you that fracking will continue until EPA can find valid conclusions and results to support the cause. The facts given from the article help support a synthesis of fracking and make the reader better understand the reasons behind investigating oil drilling and fracking in the state of Wyoming. The EPA and drilling industry both argue against the causes, leaving the EPA left without final results. Although testing has gone underway, there is much more needed in order to complete the problem.
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