The Environmental Protection
Agency released a report stating that the contamination near the town of
Pavillion, Wyoming had probably seeped upwards from gas wells and contained
over ten compounds that are commonly used in frack fluids. Fracking is a highly
controversial form of oil extraction. It is when a deep shale layer is fractured
in order to release natural gas (Mooney par 1). The EPA’s report is especially
important because there has been a national debate about whether or not
fracking is causing contamination (Lustgarten and Kusnetz par 5). This report
could determine how the country is going to regulate and develop natural gas
resources (5). This report is also important because it contradicts many
arguments that claim fracking is safe (6). According to the report, “Pollution
from 33 abandoned oil and gas waste pits 2013 which are the subject of a
separate cleanup program 2013 are indeed responsible for some degree of shallow
groundwater pollution in the area” (16).
These pits, however, could not explain the contamination in the monitoring
wells 1,000 feet underground, so the EPA concluded that fracking was
responsible (16 and 17).
This report still needs to
undergo review, but it is likely going to lead to a major revision in
government fracking policies. If traces of the carcinogenic chemicals commonly
used for the process are being found in water supply, then this is going to
seriously impact human health. People need to protest the practice of fracking
to obtain natural gas and insist that a safer method be used.
Works Cited:
Lustgarten, Abraham, and Nicholas
Kusnetz. "EPA: Natural Gas Fracking Linked to
Water Contamination."
Scientific American. N.p., 9 Dec. 2011. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=fracking-linked-water-contamination-federal-agency>.
Mooney, Chris. "The Truth about
Fracking." Scientific American. N.p., 19 Oct. 2011.
Web. 27 Sept. 2012.
<http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-truth-about-fracking>.
I think that the fracking policies should be revised. I agree that a safer method should be used to obtain natural gas. The use of cancer causing chemicals is not safe for human health. It surprised me that the owners of the companies tried to argue that the chemicals did not come from fracking.
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