Natural Gas DrillingNatural Gas Drilling(Fracking)(Fracking)

Lauren Thompson, Carly Lauren Thompson, Carly Meyer, Jeannie KwanMeyer, Jeannie Kwan

IntroductionIntroduction

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U01EK76Sy4A&feature=related

What is Fracking (Natural Gas What is Fracking (Natural Gas Drilling)?Drilling)?

• Better known as natural gas drilling, it Better known as natural gas drilling, it involves pumping water saturated with involves pumping water saturated with chemicals into shale (rocks) in the ground chemicals into shale (rocks) in the ground to release natural gases. to release natural gases.

• Began in the 1940’s in Texas as simple Began in the 1940’s in Texas as simple hydrofrackinghydrofracking

• Made more efficient in 1990’s with Made more efficient in 1990’s with horizontal drillinghorizontal drilling

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=timfvNgr_Q4

Safe Drinking Water ActSafe Drinking Water Act

• Federal law ensuring safe water to Federal law ensuring safe water to drinkdrink

• Passed by Congress in 1974Passed by Congress in 1974

• Amended 1986 and 1996Amended 1986 and 1996

• Fracking exempted by Congress in Fracking exempted by Congress in 20052005

Energy Policy Act of 2005 Energy Policy Act of 2005

• Addresses energy productionAddresses energy production

• Signed by George W. BushSigned by George W. Bush

• Provides loan guarantees for people Provides loan guarantees for people using new technologies to avoid by using new technologies to avoid by product of greenhouse gasesproduct of greenhouse gases

Evidence/StatisticsEvidence/Statistics

• In the west, fracking waste water is In the west, fracking waste water is injected underground and is intended injected underground and is intended to be permanently kept thereto be permanently kept there

• In PA, used to just flow into rivers but In PA, used to just flow into rivers but EPA is now trying to pass legislation EPA is now trying to pass legislation to control how waste water is to control how waste water is disposeddisposed

Recent DevelopmentsRecent Developments

• EPA finds need to further investigate safety EPA finds need to further investigate safety of fracking, and is due to be released 2012of fracking, and is due to be released 2012

• Arlington put $2,397 annual fee on natural Arlington put $2,397 annual fee on natural gas drilling wells; money will go to gas drilling wells; money will go to emergency preparedness and response emergency preparedness and response programsprograms

• New York state court ruled that towns have New York state court ruled that towns have the right to ban fracking even though the right to ban fracking even though states argue otherwisestates argue otherwise

Public OpinionPublic OpinionA survey was taken of 525 Pennsylvania residents from randomly A survey was taken of 525 Pennsylvania residents from randomly

selected areasselected areas

• ““Key findings include: Key findings include: – (1) more Pennsylvanians believe drilling has and will provide (1) more Pennsylvanians believe drilling has and will provide

more benefits than problems; more benefits than problems; – (2) drilling firms should be taxed and the revenue should be used (2) drilling firms should be taxed and the revenue should be used

for road and bridge repair or environmental protection; for road and bridge repair or environmental protection; – (3) Pennsylvanians view natural gas as a public resource and (3) Pennsylvanians view natural gas as a public resource and

believe there should be disclosure of fracking chemicals used; believe there should be disclosure of fracking chemicals used; and, and,

– (4) Pennsylvanians have significant doubts about the credibility (4) Pennsylvanians have significant doubts about the credibility of the media, environmental groups and scientists on the issue, of the media, environmental groups and scientists on the issue, and also believe Governor Tom Corbett is too closely aligned with and also believe Governor Tom Corbett is too closely aligned with the preferences of energy extraction groups.”the preferences of energy extraction groups.”

Public Opinion (cont.)Public Opinion (cont.)

• ““The survey also found that:The survey also found that:

• 44 percent of those polled say they somewhat or strongly 44 percent of those polled say they somewhat or strongly agree the media are overstating the environmental impacts agree the media are overstating the environmental impacts of fracking, while 41 percent say they somewhat or strongly of fracking, while 41 percent say they somewhat or strongly disagree.disagree.

• 48 percent say they somewhat or strongly agree that 48 percent say they somewhat or strongly agree that environmental groups are overstating the impacts of the environmental groups are overstating the impacts of the drilling, while 39 percent say they somewhat or strongly drilling, while 39 percent say they somewhat or strongly disagree.disagree.

• 34 percent say they somewhat or strongly agree that 34 percent say they somewhat or strongly agree that scientists are overstating the impacts of fracking, while 42 scientists are overstating the impacts of fracking, while 42 percent say they somewhat or strongly disagree.”percent say they somewhat or strongly disagree.”

• http://rfflibrary.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/fracking-for-natural-gas-public-opinion-on-state-policy-options

Frack Action Frack Action

• Tries to protect water, air, and public Tries to protect water, air, and public health from dangers of hydraulic health from dangers of hydraulic fracturingfracturing

• Raising awareness, exposing false Raising awareness, exposing false claims of gas industry, mobilizing a claims of gas industry, mobilizing a citizen movementcitizen movement

Frack Action ArgumentsFrack Action Arguments

• Generates large amounts of toxic Generates large amounts of toxic wastewaterwastewater– Left to evaporateLeft to evaporate– Dumped into riversDumped into rivers

and streamsand streams

• Contaminates Contaminates

drinking waterdrinking water

• Can cause people to get sickCan cause people to get sick

• Uses large amounts of fresh water Uses large amounts of fresh water

Other Groups Opposed to Other Groups Opposed to FrackingFracking

• Josh Fox (Gasland)Josh Fox (Gasland)

• Earth JusticeEarth Justice

• ProPublicaProPublica

Earth Justice VideoEarth Justice Video

•http://earthjustice.org/our_work/campaigns/fracking-gone-wrong-finding-a-better-way?gclid=CIjr-5CBiq4CFWYTNAodRhLB2Q

Political Party ViewsPolitical Party Views

• For the most part, all parties agree that For the most part, all parties agree that it would be beneficial to our economyit would be beneficial to our economy

• Green party opposesGreen party opposes

• President Obama, Newt Gingrich, Rick President Obama, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, and Mitt Romney Santorum, Ron Paul, and Mitt Romney think that natural gas drilling would be think that natural gas drilling would be beneficial for Americabeneficial for America

Political CartoonsPolitical Cartoons

http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/copyno.php

http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/copyno.php

Sources Sources

• http://www.propublica.org/

• http://earthjustice.org/

• http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/

• http://frackaction.com/content/what-fracking

• http://www.intoon.com/cartoons.cfm/id/105548

• http://www.propublica.org/article/new-york-court-affirms-towns-powers-to-ban-fracking

• http://www.2facts.com/icof_story.aspx?PIN=i1600570&term=natural+gas+drilling

• http://www.naturalgas.org/naturalgas/exploration.asphttp://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/searchResults/actionWin?http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/searchResults/actionWin?failOverType=&query=BS+natural+gas+drilling&prodId=OVIC&windowstate=normal&display-failOverType=&query=BS+natural+gas+drilling&prodId=OVIC&windowstate=normal&display-query=BS+natural+gas+drilling&mode=view&limiter=AC+y&totalSearchResultCount=1090&displaquery=BS+natural+gas+drilling&mode=view&limiter=AC+y&totalSearchResultCount=1090&displayGroups=&userGroupName=&action=e&catId=&activityType=BasicSearch&scanId=CSHyGroups=&userGroupName=&action=e&catId=&activityType=BasicSearch&scanId=CSH

• http://www.2facts.com/icof_story.aspx?PIN=ib160572&term=frackinghttp://www.2facts.com/icof_story.aspx?PIN=ib160572&term=fracking

• http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/hydraulic_fracturing_101http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/hydraulic_fracturing_101

• http://www.propublica.org/article/epa-plans-to-issue-rules-covering-fracking-wastewaterhttp://www.propublica.org/article/epa-plans-to-issue-rules-covering-fracking-wastewater

• http://blog.modspace.com/2012/02/09/2012-presidential-election-candidates-views-on-natural-gas/http://blog.modspace.com/2012/02/09/2012-presidential-election-candidates-views-on-natural-gas/