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The Dangers Of Fracking

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Fracking is the process of drilling into the earth and injecting water, sand, and chemicals into the rock at intense pressure in order to release natural gas back into a well (“What is Fracking…” 1). In 2005, when the Environmental Protection Agency excluded fracking from the Safe Drinking Water Act, this really was the turning point for drillers (Stockton 2). While the resources of oil and gas and now more easily accessible due to recent fracking, this process has become an environmental issue that has negative effects (“What is Fracking…” 6). Water waste, increased release of methane, air pollution, and earthquakes are all examples of this (Loki 1-5). While we are aware of the harm that fracking does to our environment it seems as if there …show more content…

Their local ecosystem is being destroyed in many ways. One controversial issue that fracking is responsible for is its immense use of water. For example, for every one barrel of oil that is recovered from fracking it leaves behind ten barrels of waste water (Stockton 3). After doing research, environmentalists have been concerned about potentially carcinogenic chemical’s ability to pollute groundwater (“What is Fracking…” 6). For example, rivers nearby become contaminated so animals can no longer drink out of it and you can’t swim in them. Another impact that fracking has on the local ecosystem is how it has been proven to cause earthquakes. In states specifically like Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas we see this happening. Faults in these areas have started to move for the first time in millions of years (Loki 6). Lawsuits against energy companies have even taken place. For example, Oklahoma experienced 5,838 earthquakes in 2015 compared to 167 earthquakes in 2009 as a consequence of fracking (“Lawsuit Seeks Damages…” 2). Undoubtedly, the environment is slowly being destroyed by fracking at our own

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