Another Study Proves Fracking Doesn't Hurt Ground Water

One more study has proved what all the others have shown, fracking doesn't pollute the ground water.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources published a 265-page document on the ecological and environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing in the state.

Part of the lucrative Marcellus shale natural gas reserve basin lies under Pennsylvania. The basin is one of the top natural gas producers in the country.

The DCNR's report said water quality is often cited as the area were most people have expressed concern about hydraulic fracturing, a drilling practice known also as fracking.

"Although incidents have occurred, the monitoring data show that water quality has not been affected due to this activity," the report said.

Some of the chemicals used in the practice are seen by fracking opponents as a threat to groundwater supplies.

The DCNR said invasive plant species and pests have been able to take advantage of the ecological and environmental disturbances caused by drilling. This "clearly shows" energy companies need to carefully manage their activity to control the spread of invasive species.

The report added more than 1,400 acres of forest were exploited for natural gas development through 2012, though that number is lower than it could've been because of management decisions.

It is estimated that Marcellus holds 1,300 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, enough gas to supply the US for 65 years.

 

One of the states that could most benefit from Marcellus is NY, however the state government keeps on avoiding the issue with new health studies.

Another issue slowing down the development of energy production are the environmentalists. Energy, especially fracking is a double-devil. There are the local environmentalists who ignore the science and claim fracking causes everything from earthquakes to contaminated ground water. Then there are the national environmentalist who fight any carbon-based energy product, ignoring the 1,350+ peer-reviewed studies that refute the global warming theory.

The US has been mired in a weak economy for six years, it's time for the United States federal and state governments to jump with both feet into the energy production pool, it will not only help those in the energy related industries but their jobs and salaries will act as free-market, easy-on-the-federal budget stimulus to the economy (are you listening Governor Cuomo?).