Water Quality V. Energy Supply: The Dilemma of Hydraulic Fracturing
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Ballroom C/D
Start Date
16-5-2013
End Date
16-5-2013
Abstract
Natural gas in the United States is plentiful, inexpensive, and becoming a significant trend in domestic energy production. However, adequate regulation is a challenge. Cost benefit analysis has determined that wastewater processes, exploration, and emissions from production are negatively affecting the environment. Water contamination from fracking is an overwhelming concern. Secrecy has been a major problem since the 2005 ‘Halliburton loophole,' which exempts hydraulic fracturing from many of the nation’s key environmental-protection laws, including the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act. According to Dr. Theo Colborn, 90 percent of the fluids used in the fracking process cause major health concerns and birth defects. Production procedures allow for contaminant leaching into local watersheds. This analysis will determine the effectiveness of current regulatory regimes in controlling the effects of hydraulic fracturing on local water quality.
Recommended Citation
Weigel, Landon, "Water Quality V. Energy Supply: The Dilemma of Hydraulic Fracturing" (2013). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 150.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2013/posters/150
Poster Number
33
Additional Mentoring Department
Political Science
Water Quality V. Energy Supply: The Dilemma of Hydraulic Fracturing
SURC Ballroom C/D
Natural gas in the United States is plentiful, inexpensive, and becoming a significant trend in domestic energy production. However, adequate regulation is a challenge. Cost benefit analysis has determined that wastewater processes, exploration, and emissions from production are negatively affecting the environment. Water contamination from fracking is an overwhelming concern. Secrecy has been a major problem since the 2005 ‘Halliburton loophole,' which exempts hydraulic fracturing from many of the nation’s key environmental-protection laws, including the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act. According to Dr. Theo Colborn, 90 percent of the fluids used in the fracking process cause major health concerns and birth defects. Production procedures allow for contaminant leaching into local watersheds. This analysis will determine the effectiveness of current regulatory regimes in controlling the effects of hydraulic fracturing on local water quality.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Rex Wirth