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Land Pollution & Environmental Damage of Natural Gas Extractions

Proponents of natural gas such as T. Boone Pickens call for the substitution of natural gas for oil-based fuels. One of his arguments for natural gas is that it burns cleaner than regular gas. However, obtaining natural gas from the ground poses environmental difficulties.

Fracking
- Fracking uses water from local streams to extract natural gas from shale deposits.
  
  Halliburton, an oilfield technology company, first developed hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. This method uses chemicals and water to help push natural gas out of the ground. Before its development, getting natural gas from shale fields was cost-prohibitive.
EPA Investigation
- Congress exempted fracking companies from the Safe Drinking Water Act.
  
  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initially investigated fracking in 2004 and approved the process. As a result of the study, Congress exempted natural gas companies from the Safe Drinking Water Act. Since that time, however, a number of incidents have occurred, prompting the EPA to initiate a new study that will conclude in 2012.
Problems with Fracking
- The EPA investigates contaminated fresh water wells near fracking operations.
  
  Fracking uses a lot of fresh water, and containing and reclaiming this water creates a problem. As of 2010, the EPA is investigating over a thousand incidents of contaminated wells in several states. In some incidents, the wells have contained mud and chemicals such as benzene. A fresh water well in Dimock, Pennsylvania became contaminated with methane and exploded.
Chemical Disclosure
- Currently, drilling companies are not required to disclose the chemicals used in fracking.
  
  Companies do not have to disclose what chemicals they are mixing with water prior to pumping it into the ground. They must disclose this information to doctors and emergency responders as needed, but not to the general public. Only, Range Resources Corp discloses this information to the public.

Nature