Water Contamination From Fracking (Hydraulic Fracturing)

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is broadening the scope of a study meant to measure the impacts of the gas drilling process called hydraulic fracturing. In addition to investigating the impacts of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, on water quality, the EPA will also look into the volumes of water required by such operations.
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The gas drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is causing more water issues in Pennsylvania. Last week, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, or DEP, ordered Chesapeake Energy Corp. to inspect the well casings of 171 natural-gas wells in the state. The order followed the discovery of methane leaking from six wells in Bradford County.
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Pennsylvanians worried about gas drilling in the state’s Marcellus shale rallied in Harrisburg yesterday, demanding better regulation of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the state. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the rally attendees were pushing the state’s legislature to approve several fracking bills before they recess in mid-October.
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The federal government has declined a New York lawmaker’s request that it use its vote on the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to impose a temporary ban on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking in parts of Pennsylvania and New York. The Delaware River Basin provides drinking water to 5 percent of the country’s population.
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Pennsylvania Marcellus shale gas drillers are spending big to influence policy making in the state, especially in regards to a proposed severance tax on gas production there. According to a report on stateline.org, the industry is pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into the campaign accounts of state lawmakers and candidates running for governor who are sympathetic to its concerns.
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