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Katherine Tixe
Connie Douglas
English 112
15 April, 2015
Hydraulic fracturing has changed how the people view oil and gas in America. Hydraulic
fracturing or fracking is a process to remove natural gas from shell rock formations by injecting
water mixed with chemicals and sand deep into the shale formation under high pressure to
release the natural gas. Hydraulic fracturing has been proven to be cleaner than burning coal and
has led its way to be named clean energy in todays society (Biello). Fracking can be viewed
negatively and positively. Three different voices come to the issue when talking about fracking
which are citizens, large oil and gas companies and environmental protection groups. Citizens
have expressed their heavy concerns towards water contaminations due to fracking. Large oil and
gas companies show the benefits and revenue fracking has brought to the United States.
Environmental protection groups and scientist have documented and studied cases of water
contamination, air pollutions and health risks due to fracking. However, fracking is a controversy
topic in the round table and all voices have backed up their claim with statistics and studies to
prove that fracking can be beneficial or dangerous to ones health and the environment.
The first voice in the round table discussion consist of oil industries proposing that
fracking is way too valuable. The gains in economics, natural security and employment,
combines with the potential to reduce global greenhouse-gas emission if natural gas is managed
properly, make a compelling case (Howarth). Proponents suggest that the United States to
continue fracking and to not stop due to the fact that the United States can make revenue.

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According to HIS, a business-information company in Douglas County, Colorado, the estimated
recoverable gas from US shale source rocks using fracking is about 42 trillion cubic meters
(Howarth). Since the United States has such an abundant resource of natural gas, the US does not
have to be heavily dependent on the Middle East for oil. Therefore, since the United States has so
much resource; US can starts to export natural gas to countries that have big appetite for energy
such as China and European countries. Oil industries also proposes that fracking is more
environmentally friendly. Gas contains 25 percent less carbon than oil and half as much as coal
(McGlynn). Many concerns such as water contamination due to fracking come into play. A study
has been found that water cannot flow uphill into water reserves (Howarth).
Hydraulic fracturing hasnt just brought major revenue on the states that choose to frack
but also provides many jobs for Americans. For example, according to a study of Marcellus
natural gas development by Penn State University; stated employment from the economic boom
has already surpassed 140,000 jobs in 2011 and is expected to support 216,000 jobs in 2015
(McGlynn). Natural gas has also opened up many opportunities to fuel tanks and incorporate
natural gas to long-haul vehicles. Since natural gas is cheaper than petroleum, trucks can save up
to one third of the energy spend by switching to natural gas (Biello). Natural gas would be a
cleaner energy choice to big trucks and cheaper. Natural gas fuelling station for trucks exist in
states like Ohio and California. Truck factories are trying to build more and more natural fueled
trucks because it burns more cleanly than other liquid fuels and emits less carbon dioxide
(Biello).
The second voice incorporated in the round table are from the citizens that have major
concerns of hydraulic fracturing. Many people have reported water contamination, health
problems and industrial waste around the drilling due to hydraulic fracturing. Many people have

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reported water contamination in the tap water that they drink. According to New York Times,
water contamination can happen through blowouts, surface spills from storage facilities, or
improper disposal of fracking fluids (Howarth). There has been many reports about families
testing their water and end up finding out that methane is found in the water. Methane is one of
the main chemicals found in fracking fluid. Activist Josh Foxs documentary Gasland shows
the major concerns families have towards fracking and how their water is not safe drinkable
water. Throughout the documentary Fox shows the tap water being brown or foggy and in some
cases when turning on the faucet it becomes flammable near a lighter since the water has toxic
chemicals. In addition, many health problems have been reported due to fracking.
Many families that live near the drillings complaint how they would start coughing and
feeling dizzy. Most families believe that ever since the oil and gas companies started to drill by
their area and started to pollute the air; it has become harder to breathe. Studies focus mainly on
the amount of carbon dioxide and other traditional air pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide and
nitrogen oxide that were released into the atmosphere when gas was burned in power plants
(McGlynn). For example, Wyoming air pollution has become a serious issue. Wyoming being
the least populated state in the Union, a plunge in air quality has been recorded since the fracking
boom began. Between the nonstop trucking and the burning of gas at wellheads, Wyomings air
pollution at times exceeds that of Los Angeles and is way beyond the EPAs safe limits for ozone
(Naff). In addition, many people have also complaint about the industrial waste due to fracking.
Many claim that fracking has turns rustic comminutes into an industrial waste-land (Naff). Waste
pits and truck traffic carrying gallons of water and chemicals have impacted many communities.
The third voice of the round table discussion is of environmental protection groups and
scientist that conduct studies of all the major concerns citizens have. Over the years the public

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have blamed the fracking industry for respiratory problems. The scientist are saying air pollution
associated with shale gas drilling may be a bigger threat than water contamination (Glauser).
Since chemicals are released in the air due to fracking it can become real dangerous to breathe in
these chemicals. Kwiatkowski and colleagues collected weekly air samples for 12 months in
Garfield County, Colorado that are within one mile of 130 shale gas wells and reported 61
airborne chemicals (Glauser). Many chemicals found in the air are dangerous but not as
dangerous as methylene chloride. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, acute
inhalation can be fatal (Glauser). Most children specially infants can be very venerable to these
chemicals and can result to respiratory problems. Water contamination has become a huge issue
in comminutes that live near the drillings. Therefore, Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental
Health Project took resident tap water samples and have tested positive for contaminants
including benzene, toluene, arsenic, and metals such as manganese, barium and strontium
(Glauser).
All voices in the round table have stated their claims and have shown details to support it.
The hydraulic fracturing controversy conversation shows their concerns or benefits of fracking.
Both citizens, environmental protection groups and scientist have claimed the concerns in
fracking and how water contamination, health problems and industrial waste are caused by
hydraulic fracking. Based on the studies scientist have collected over the years air contamination
with toxic chemicals from fracking can be more dangerous than water contamination causing
respiratory problems to the communities that live near the drillings. In the other hand, oil and gas
companies believe that natural gas is way too valuable to ignore and to stop. Hydraulic fracturing
has brought millions in revenue over the country. Natural gas is the new cleaner energy and has
provided many jobs in America.

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