Natural Gas Drilling (Fracking) Lauren Thompson, Carly Meyer, Jeannie Kwan

Introduction 76Sy4A&feature=related 76Sy4A&feature=related 76Sy4A&feature=related 76Sy4A&feature=related

What is Fracking (Natural Gas Drilling)? Better known as natural gas drilling, it involves pumping water saturated with chemicals into shale (rocks) in the ground to release natural gases. Better known as natural gas drilling, it involves pumping water saturated with chemicals into shale (rocks) in the ground to release natural gases. Began in the 1940’s in Texas as simple hydrofracking Began in the 1940’s in Texas as simple hydrofracking Made more efficient in 1990’s with horizontal drilling Made more efficient in 1990’s with horizontal drilling _embedded&v=timfvNgr_Q4 _embedded&v=timfvNgr_Q4 _embedded&v=timfvNgr_Q4 _embedded&v=timfvNgr_Q4

Safe Drinking Water Act Federal law ensuring safe water to drink Federal law ensuring safe water to drink Passed by Congress in 1974 Passed by Congress in 1974 Amended 1986 and 1996 Amended 1986 and 1996 Fracking exempted by Congress in 2005 Fracking exempted by Congress in 2005

Energy Policy Act of 2005 Addresses energy production Addresses energy production Signed by George W. Bush Signed by George W. Bush Provides loan guarantees for people using new technologies to avoid by product of greenhouse gases Provides loan guarantees for people using new technologies to avoid by product of greenhouse gases

Evidence/Statistics In the west, fracking waste water is injected underground and is intended to be permanently kept there In the west, fracking waste water is injected underground and is intended to be permanently kept there In PA, used to just flow into rivers but EPA is now trying to pass legislation to control how waste water is disposed In PA, used to just flow into rivers but EPA is now trying to pass legislation to control how waste water is disposed

Recent Developments EPA finds need to further investigate safety of fracking, and is due to be released 2012 EPA finds need to further investigate safety of fracking, and is due to be released 2012 Arlington put $2,397 annual fee on natural gas drilling wells; money will go to emergency preparedness and response programs Arlington put $2,397 annual fee on natural gas drilling wells; money will go to emergency preparedness and response programs New York state court ruled that towns have the right to ban fracking even though states argue otherwise New York state court ruled that towns have the right to ban fracking even though states argue otherwise

Frack Action Tries to protect water, air, and public health from dangers of hydraulic fracturing Tries to protect water, air, and public health from dangers of hydraulic fracturing Raising awareness, exposing false claims of gas industry, mobilizing a citizen movement Raising awareness, exposing false claims of gas industry, mobilizing a citizen movement

Frack Action Arguments Generates large amounts of toxic wastewater Generates large amounts of toxic wastewater –Left to evaporate –Dumped into rivers and streams Contaminates Contaminates drinking water Can cause people to get sick Can cause people to get sick Uses large amounts of fresh water Uses large amounts of fresh water

Other Groups Opposed to Fracking Josh Fox (Gasland) Josh Fox (Gasland) Earth Justice Earth Justice ProPublica ProPublica

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Pro-Fracking Abundant Abundant –Estimated that the US holds over 2,000 trillion cubic feet of available gas Clean and more efficient than coal and oil Clean and more efficient than coal and oil Domestic Domestic –Rely less of foreign oil Boosts economy and brings jobs, locally and nationwide Boosts economy and brings jobs, locally and nationwide –2008: 2.8 million American jobs, billion to the U.S. economy, from natural gas –Estimate for 2015: 800,000 jobs, $118 billion to the economy, from shale alone

Energy From Shale To protect hometowns and the environment, workers adhere to strict safety standards To protect hometowns and the environment, workers adhere to strict safety standards Construct natural gas wells with barriers made of steel and cement to protect freshwater resources Construct natural gas wells with barriers made of steel and cement to protect freshwater resources

Energy From Shale (cont.) Water for fracking is not obtained by our freshwater resources. Instead: Water for fracking is not obtained by our freshwater resources. Instead: –surface water, groundwater, municipal water suppliers, treated wastewater from municipal and industrial treatment facilities, power plant cooling water, and/or recycled produced water and/or flow back water. Waste Water is: Waste Water is: –injected in permitted disposal wells in accordance with Underground Injection Control regulations –delivered to water treatment facilities to remove pollutants –reused/recycled.

Other Interest groups ANGA- America’s Natural Gas Alliance ANGA- America’s Natural Gas Alliance Clean Growth Now Clean Growth Now Marcellus Shale Coalition Marcellus Shale Coalition Range Resources Range Resources –Independent Natural Gas drilling company in the Appalachian Regions

States that have Fracking New Mexico New Mexico New York New York Ohio Ohio Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Texas Texas West Virginia West Virginia Wyoming Wyoming Arkansas Arkansas California California Colorado Colorado Delaware Delaware Louisiana Louisiana Maryland Maryland New Jersey New Jersey

Fracking in Pennsylvania Pro: Pro: –"…during 2010 Pennsylvania Marcellus natural gas development generated $11.2 billion in value added or the regional equivalent of gross domestic product, contributed $1.1 billion in state and local tax revenues, and supported nearly 140,000 jobs." –The Pennsylvania Marcellus Natural Gas Industry: Status, Economic Impacts and Future Potential – n3sGdfE9nXg n3sGdfE9nXghttp:// n3sGdfE9nXg Con: Con: Water Resources at Stake: Delaware River, Monongahela River, Susquehanna River Water Resources at Stake: Delaware River, Monongahela River, Susquehanna River Sold to gas companies, towns loose control Sold to gas companies, towns loose control

Pennsylvania Laws Pennsylvania was the only state not to have a tax on natural gas drilling. In Oct. 2010, a bill was turned down. Pennsylvania was the only state not to have a tax on natural gas drilling. In Oct. 2010, a bill was turned down. In Feb. 2012, Bill passed that would put a tax on natural gas drilling In Feb. 2012, Bill passed that would put a tax on natural gas drilling Many opposed: Many opposed: –Environmental and safety standards were weak. –takes away the rights of local governments to use zoning laws to regulate the location of natural gas drilling sites in their communities

Public Opinion A survey was taken of 525 Pennsylvania residents from randomly selected areas “Key findings include: “Key findings include: –(1) more Pennsylvanians believe drilling has and will provide more benefits than problems; –(2) drilling firms should be taxed and the revenue should be used for road and bridge repair or environmental protection; –(3) Pennsylvanians view natural gas as a public resource and believe there should be disclosure of fracking chemicals used; and, –(4) Pennsylvanians have significant doubts about the credibility of the media, environmental groups and scientists on the issue, and also believe Governor Tom Corbett is too closely aligned with the preferences of energy extraction groups.”

Public Opinion (cont.) “The survey also found that: “The survey also found that: 44 percent of those polled say they somewhat or strongly agree the media are overstating the environmental impacts of fracking, while 41 percent say they somewhat or strongly disagree. 44 percent of those polled say they somewhat or strongly agree the media are overstating the environmental impacts of fracking, while 41 percent say they somewhat or strongly disagree. 48 percent say they somewhat or strongly agree that environmental groups are overstating the impacts of the drilling, while 39 percent say they somewhat or strongly disagree. 48 percent say they somewhat or strongly agree that environmental groups are overstating the impacts of the drilling, while 39 percent say they somewhat or strongly disagree. 34 percent say they somewhat or strongly agree that scientists are overstating the impacts of fracking, while 42 percent say they somewhat or strongly disagree.” 34 percent say they somewhat or strongly agree that scientists are overstating the impacts of fracking, while 42 percent say they somewhat or strongly disagree.” public-opinion-on-state-policy-options public-opinion-on-state-policy-options public-opinion-on-state-policy-options public-opinion-on-state-policy-options

Political Party Views For the most part, all parties agree that it would be beneficial to our economy For the most part, all parties agree that it would be beneficial to our economy Green party opposes Green party opposes President Obama, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, and Mitt Romney think that natural gas drilling would be beneficial for America President Obama, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, and Mitt Romney think that natural gas drilling would be beneficial for America

Political Cartoons

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