I recently attended a presentation on “Fracking in NY” held at my local library. I attended the presentation to increase my knowledge on this subject and to interact with others, within my local area, regarding their views and opinions on this matter. I have found that many of us share a commonality to our concerns regarding water pollution, health concerns and land degradation, to name a few.
For those of you who may not know what fracking or rather hydraulic fracturing is, let me try and provide you a simplified version of what it is.
Hydraulic fracturing is defined as the following according to the NYSDEC website:
“Hydraulic fracturing consists of pumping a fluid and a propping material such as sand down the well under high pressure to create fractures in the gas-bearing rock. The propping material (usually referred to as a “proppant”) holds the fractures open, allowing more gas to flow into the well than would naturally. No blast or explosion is created by the hydraulic fracturing process, which has been used in New York since at least the 1950s. Hydraulic fracturing technology is especially helpful for “tight” rocks like shale.
Quantity of water needed for hydraulic fracturing
Hydraulic fracturing of the Marcellus Shale will require large volumes of water to fracture the rocks and produce the desired amount of gas. Each well may use more than one million gallons of water.”
I am interested to know what many of you think about this subject. Are you for or against fracking? And why?
Now I know that this subject can be quite controversial and be heated at times. This subject weighs heavy on the minds of the many, including myself. Therefore, I would like to ask all of you to please be kind to one another if a comment does not coincide to your own personal opinions or concerns. Thank you.
I have heard too many stories of the water tables in entire communities being polluted to be comfortable with fracking. You run a very real risk of mixing the petro-chemicals that you are seeking with the water supply.
My personal opinion is that any risk is too much risk. Which is more important, oil and gas profits or our water supply?
Here in Pennsylvania, Fracking is becoming a very big issue, both politically and environmentally. Very heated discussions on both sides and is also now including the National Park Service since the areas the gasline company wants to frack are very close and along the Delaware River area. I myself are very much against it. The gas companies and the politicians seem to prey on the people with promises of new jobs. Since there are so many people out of work, these politicians and the gas companies are wearing these people down to side with them. I think this is a huge mistake.