Natural Gas Drilling Pollution Debate Heats Up Around Marcellus Shale
Until recently, drilling for natural gas trapped in shale formations was not favored by drilling companies due to higher extraction costs. New technologies and a new push for oil independence have natural gas drilling companies clambering for a share in drilling the Appalachian basin's Marcellus Shale formation.
The largest of the U.S. shale gas reserves, Marcellus extends through New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Though it is estimated to contain up to 500 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and could theoretically cover U.S. natural gas needs for up to ten years, fear of the toxic chemicals used in the drilling process is fueling widespread public outcry.
At issue is the hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" fluid used in the creation of natural gas wells. The process involves injecting huge volumes of water laced with benzene and hundreds of other toxic chemicals, deep into the earth. Although the chemicals are injected well below the water table, as much as 60% of the fluid is later recovered and sometimes stored above ground in open pits. There is growing evidence that hydraulic fracturing poses a great threat to groundwater quality and public health.
Benzene, an organic solvent linked to several rare and debilitating blood disorders such as aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and acute myelogenous leukemia, is just one of the hundreds of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing fluid. The exact compositions of these fluids are largely unknown to the public because Congress has all but completely exempted oil and gas exploration companies from the Federal Emergency Planning and Community Right To Know acts. Environmental experts believe that up to 90% of the chemicals used are toxic to humans.
Oil and Gas Drilling companies are also exempt from the following environmental laws:
- Safe Drinking Water Act
There are countless testimonies from those living near natural gas drilling sites that allege everything form contaminated wells and ground water, to methane seeps causing foul odors, and even exploding wells. If even a fraction of these accounts are partially true, the drilling poses a significant threat to human health, and the environment.
All this for 10 years worth of natural gas? Pollution on this scale is not easily remedied, future generations will surely scoff at the idea of severely impacting a heavily populated 575 square mile area to obtain a 10 year supply of gas. The "more petroleum at any cost" philosophy may keep our economy going for now, but it will be the key to our eventual undoing.
Until we can shift into an economy based on the sustainable exploitation of our planets resources, we will increasingly poison ourselves and our environment.
