2012 GMPC Students-Multani, Forde, Eltayib, Kumar

BIG IDEAS – Central Ideas Fracking – Stewardship – Energy – Lifestyle Essential Questions Are we responsible for the Earth? Are we responsible for our society? How can we make a difference? How do you balance individuals’ rights with the public’s good?

Why are we fracking now? Energy Consumption. The U. S. is 5% of the world’s population, uses 24% of the world’s resources, and produces 25% of the waste. (Source: The Story of Stuff). Bridge Energy Source Jobs $$$$

Who are the stakeholders? Conexo Energy Chesapeake Energy Company NYC Residents Homeowners Municipalities Vacationers

Focusing Questions: Who, What, When, Where, Why What is fracking? How is it done? Who are the stakeholders? Where is fracking happening? Why do the different stakeholders want/don’t want fracking? What are the pros and cons? What are the problems/benefits? Who benefits pro, who benefits con? Magnet Standards: Sustainability, Sense of Place, Inquiry, Careers, Technology, Activism

Words to Know and Use Fracking, fracking fluid Hydraulic fracturing Stakeholder Shale, shale bed, shale play conundrum Timely Homeowner’s rights, mortgages Toxic chemicals EPA Produced water Aquifer – Find other words about fracking to know and use.

Two editorialized views of the effects of fracking.  Anti-fracking  Pro-fracking

Drilling 7-10,000 feet down Can we really know what’s going on 10,000 feet down? Have the energy companies Done seismic studies? When accidents have occurred, the companies have admitted Fault, but claimed that didn’t have enough information. Who’s fault is that?

Where In the U. S. is Fracking? Shale Plays in U. S. Source: Energy Information Administration

Why are we fracking now? Energy Consumption. The U. S. is 5% of the world’s population, uses 24% of the world’s resources, and produces 25% of the waste. (Source: The Story of Stuff). Bridge Energy Source Jobs $$$$

What Are the Problems with Fracking?

Industrialization of rural America. “Waste pit at hydro-fracking drill site. Drilling slurry from the shale layer is radioactive due to the uranium of the layer and contains the chemicals used in the drilling.” J Henry Fair,

Do we want to keep rural America rural?

Drill Sites with Nearby Farm Each drill site uses millions of gallons of water and about 1000 trucks.

What can we do? What can you do in your classroom? What can staff, students and their families do? What more do we need to know? Who should we contact? – Governor Cuomo – NYS Dept of Environment Conservation (DEC) – President Obama, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, U. S. Representatives When, where, and how do we need to act? – Send letters, s, make phone calls

Sources Slide 1 and 10 image, Joe Albertan. fracking-truth.html. Accessed 1/20/12. fracking-truth.html Slide 4 Images – Pro-Fracking Drilling Picture: MidHudson Messenger. “Free Fracking documentary screens in Narrowsburg.” “ 9/6/2009. Accessed 1/18/12. “Free Fracking documentary screens in Narrowsburg.” “ – Anti-Fracking Image: Gasland: The Movie. Accessed 1/12/12www.gaslandthemovie.com Slide 6 image. Lambert, Jay. Investigation Currently Underway To Determine If Hydraulic “Fracking” Is Behind Explosion Of B.C. Earthquakes. The Innkeepers. 10/7/2011. Accessed. 1/12/12. Slide 7: Map of Fracking Plays – Kimball, Jay. “Congress Releases Report on Toxic Chemicals Used In Fracking.” 8020 Vision: Analysis and Insight on Sustainable Business, Government, and Community, April 17, Accessed 1/18/12. Slide 10 and 12: J Henry Fair “Drilling in the Catskill Mountains Marcellus Shale. Accessed 1/20/12. Image from Circle of Blue: Reporting the Global Water Crisis. “ EPA and Halliburton Skirmish — Promises of Safer Fracking Fluid.” 11/20/2010. Accessed 1/18/12. Slide 11: Image from “EPA Fracking Waste Rules Debated,” propane.pro, 11/21/2011. Accessed 1/15/12EPA Fracking Waste Rules Debated