To Frack or Not to Frack Debate Position: The dangerous and non-sustainable process of hydraulic fracturing introduces environmental hazards,

causes severe health problems, produces high levels of air and water pollution, requires high levels of fresh water usage, and violates fundamental constitutional rights. Unnecessary Risk First of all, natural gas is finite. At the United States current rate of energy consumption, the recoverable supply of natural gas will only last another 92 years. This temporary solution to the energy crisis will only continue to produce carbon-based pollution through the burning of carbon-based natural gas. An energy policy based on natural gas would soon leave us running on empty and even then, the thousands of leftover wells, pipelines, and equipment would continue to contaminate the environment. General Fracking introduces many significant hazards that negatively impact ecosystems, animals, and humans. The chemicals used in fracking fluids are toxic they are injected into the ground at high pressure and can contaminate ground water by seeping into aquifers and other water supplies. Oil and gas industries are not required to report what chemicals they use and are inappropriately exempt from important provisions of federal environmental protection laws. Effect on Health Each fracking job produces millions of gallons of wastewater which instead of being properly disposed of, have been found discharged into nearby water bodies, ultimately polluting the surrounding environment. The dispersion of these fracking chemicals, including hundreds of radioactive materials and toxic compounds, into ground water systems has serious consequences on health. Many of these chemicals are hazardous if ingested or contacted by the skin. Some are extremely caustic; others interfere with hormone activity and have been linked to infertility, ADHD, autism, diabetes, and thyroid disorders; yet others are carcinogenic. Many of these chemicals are not biodegradable and cannot be filtered out of water, so people receiving water from contaminated water supplies are exposed to extremely harmful substances. These can damage any of the bodys organ systems and have ultimately fatal consequences, causing cancer, birth defects, and even deaththe truth is that many of these people will die of expensive diseases because of these fracking byproducts. Waste fluid that has not seeped into the surrounding nature is left in the open air to evaporate, releasing harmful volatile organic compounds into the air. Venting, flaring, and heavy construction at drilling areas, along with diesel exhaust from the hundreds of trucks that transport water to fracking sites, further contribute to the contamination of the atmosphere. Consequently, ozone and smog levels in gas drilling areas are extremely high. Initially, residents living near drilling sites may experience watery

eyes, bloody noses, and asthma, but it has become clear that high levels of ozone can lead to an increased risk of premature death from heart or lung disease. Environment Humans arent the only ones being impacted by frackingecosystems, animals, and our climate are certainly paying their price, as well. Each fracking process utilizes millions of gallons of water and this can affect water availability for other uses. Lack of water and contaminated water bodies greatly impact aquatic habitats and can cause the distress and even death of aquatic life. Plants, animals, habitats, and natural landscapes are further destroyed as land is cleared for drilling purposes. The air pollution resulting from fracking can only quicken global warming and the consequent drastic and detrimental changes in our planet. Violation of Rights In areas where fracking takes place, the lives of community members are also sadly disrupted. Drilling produces powerful noise pollution. Children cannot swim in rivers they have always swam in. Families can no longer fish in nearby lakes. Roads are ruined by trucks. Land is used for the construction of drilling facilities. Fracking firms violate property rights by drilling horizontally under private property without consent. Hydraulic fracturing can potentially pollute a communitys water supply, rendering it completely unsafe and unusable. In these cases, communities must receive their water from outside supplies and the costs and efforts to transport and store water from elsewhere become problematic. [Supporters of fracking claim that drilling industries create large numbers of jobs, but the truth of the matter is that a number of industries in the communities, such as those of tourism, agriculture, organic farming, and out-door recreation experience a loss of jobs as a result of the effects of fracking.] Closing Yes, fracking produces about 300,000 barrels of natural gas a day, but it does so at the price of environmental, safety, and health hazards. Fracking extends from the greed to live a life of excess energy consumption at the expense of future generations. The water of the hydrologic cycle is being permanently contaminated, the air in our atmosphere is copious with foul chemicals, and the ecological health of our planet is deteriorating. As a society, we need to prioritize the protection of our air, land, water, animals, and people. Fracking is not a viable solution to our energy needs and we needs to invest our efforts in harnessing renewable and clean sources of energy. If we do not start taking the steps to preserve our environment today, the worlds ecosystems will suffer and future generations will truly be unable to breathe the air and drink the waterby then, it will be too late.