Here is another in our continuing series of articles about fracking from our sister site luna canus.
Many in the medical community are concerned over the potential health dangers of the fracking process. They are requesting that our government and the big energy companies join forces to determine exactly what those health dangers could be.They are also asking for a temporary stop to fracking until those tests can be done.
Sounds reasonable to me but there is no surprise that the big oil companies and their political allies are against any type of pause to fracking. After all profits are up and the cash is flowing once again into campaign coffers. What are a few sick or dead American taxpayers compared to that?
As a refresher, fracking is a term used to describe a process called hydraulic fracturing. This drilling process is designed to remove natural gas from stone deep underground. A site is chosen and standard drilling begins. Once the desired level is reached (usually just above underground aquifers) a heated and pressurized mixture of salt water and chemicals is pumped into the ground fracturing the stone and allowing the release of natural gas. The problems with this process seem to be large indeed though the companies involved in the process claim that the nearness of their fracking sites does not imply guilt.
So what are the potential health problems and is it possible that American Doctors are overreacting to them?
First on the list of problems is the fact that we do not know what types of toxic and health threatening chemicals are used in this process. Thank to laws that have yet to be overturned fracking is exempt from clean water regulation thanks to actions taken by our oil buddy former President Bush at the urging of his VP Cheney. Also though the majority of companies will claim they disclose what their fracking fluid consists of, this has turned out not to be the case. In fact, they will use laws about proprietary information as a way to deny area residents the information they seek.
Another problem with this type of drilling is the lack of clean up after the energy firm gets its gas. Many reports are showing that as much as 40% of the solution is left behind after the fracking process is done. So there are thousands of gallons of this chemical and salt water mixture left deep under ground. It only has two directions to go. First is deeper till it works its way into fresh water aquifers or second is up toward the surface and peoples soil and drinking water. To me neither option is acceptable.
Now our nations Doctors and portions of our government are sayingenough is enough. We do not know what is being used and we do not know the potential health risk to the people of our nation.
Some energy companies will talk about 60 years of safe operation involving fracking. I do not know what energy companies have been using this process for 60 years but I do know this. In the first half of the 1960′s the United States Army Corps Of Engineers was ordered to explore the use of the fracking process in Colorado. Though I have seen no reports of dangerous chemicals the Corps ended the study in 1966. The reason they abandoned this project was a link between fracking and the rise of earthquakes in the area.
Now we have communities that had clean fresh water before hydro fracturing began in the area. Now their tap water is bursting into flames and the ground will explode unless vents are bored into the soil. The warning signs are all there for anyone with a scintilla of common sense to see. The only people who claim they cannot see the connection are the companies that are profiting off the destruction of our environment.
You can read more about the Doctors calling for a halt to the process, the governments involvement and the oil companies response at Bloomberg.com
If fracking has occurred in your area and you feel you need help defending your health and your rights you can visit waterpollutionlawyers.com
We have other proven and safe alternatives to our energy problems. I fail to see why so many companies would invest in this process as opposed to solar and wind power. The profits will be there either way because people need energy. We also need clean drinking water and soil that is solid. Our health would be a nice thing also.
This video will help you understand the dangers of fracking.
All rightee then, let’s get this travesty stopped, shall we?
