New Poll:Concern Over Fracking’s Environmental Impact Growing

According to a new poll in the New York Times, more than half of Americans surveyed are now knowledgeable about the Hydraulic Fracturing method of natural gas drilling and many are raising concerns over the regulation of the process.

The poll of 1,012 people, which was conducted for the Civil Society Institute, found that 57 percent of respondents have at least some awareness of the drilling process. Of those surveyed, 69 percent raised concern over fracking’s impact on water quality.

Interestingly, concern over fracking was prevalent among members of both major political parties, with 57 percent of Republicans, 74 percent of independents and 86 percent of Democrats raising issues.

According to the survey, 19 percent of respondents consider themselves “very aware” of fracking; 25 percent “somewhat aware” and 13 percent “not very aware.” Of those who considered themselves either “very/somewhat” aware of fracking, 49 percent identify as Republicans, 47 percent as independents and 39 percent as Democrats.

Pollsters with Infogroup/Opinion Research Corp, which conducted the survey for the institute, also did a more thorough examination of residents in Pennsylvania and New York, who are situated near the Marcellus Shale where drilling is most common. In that survey, half of residents were either “very aware” (22 percent) or “somewhat aware” (28 percent) of fracking’s potential impact on water supplies.  In contrast, New York City residents were less in tune with the issue, with 53 percent “unaware” of fracking, compared to 16 percent “very aware”  or 22 percent “somewhat aware.”