Summary: The Environmental Benefits Of Fracking

Since the 1990’s, modern day fracking has been a technique used to extract natural gas from shale, tight sandstone and coal beds. This is done first drilling a deep hole into the rock and then injecting a mixture of water, sand and chemicals and blasting them into the rock formations under very high pressure. This process produces an abundance of natural gas that could power homes and businesses for many years. Although some people believe that hydraulic fracturing causes environmental harm and costs more money than it would save, others believe it does little environmental harm and would save consumers a large amount of money and even help boost the economy.
One of the major aspects in the fracking debate is whether or not it pollutes the
Loris stated that “the fluid used in hydraulic fracturing is 99.5 percent water and sand”(Loris). And with the issue of the remaining wastewater, Loris also stated “some of the fracking fluid rises to the surface through steel-cased well bores and is temporarily stored in lined pits or steel tanks. Companies then recycle and reuse the wastewater or store it in an injection well deep underground”(Loris). So the belief that the wastewater from fracking is highly dangerous, polluted with chemicals and can pollute nearby water sources does not correspond with the extremely low percentage of chemicals used in the process. Further into his research, Loris found that “Studies by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Groundwater Protection Council, and independent agencies have found no evidence of groundwater contamination”(Loris). So contrary to popular belief, there are actually no studies that prove that fracking contributes to any form of water contamination. And while it is believed that the chemicals used in fracking are dangerous and can contain “potential carcinogens”(“Hydraulic Fracking Should Be Banned”), “All chemicals used in the fracking process have common applications from swimming pool cleaners and laundry detergents to cosmetics, and even ice cream”(“Fracking Is Not a Public Risk”). So the