A lawsuit was recently filed by environmentalists in the state of Wyoming due to concerns over hydraulic fracking and possible contamination of the water and soil caused by the chemicals that are used during the extraction process.
Critics of fracking argue that it has been linked to instances of water contamination and illness in people. The technique may pose considerable threats to environmental safety and the impact of fracking is currently being studied. Now, the lawsuit filed by environmentalists regarding the risks of fracking contamination will be heard by the Wyoming Supreme Court in November.
What is Fracking?
Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) is a form of natural gas extraction (or drilling) that involves pumping millions of gallons of pressurized, chemically treated water into shale formations or coal beds. The fluid, injected deep into the ground, creates or widens cracks in the rocks, leaving methane gas free to escape from underground. Fracking has enabled drilling companies to access pockets of natural gas below deep rock, which was previously inaccessible by conventional methods.
Fracking has increased the US’ production of natural gas and has also contributed to a slight decrease in the nation’s demand for foreign oil and gas. However, specific environmental dangers posed by fracking are still relatively unknown.
Court Rulings and States on Fracking Bans
The Wyoming lawsuit initially filed by environmental groups was designed to require the state and Halliburton Energy Services to publicize the list of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. The named defendants argued that the chemicals they use to perform the extraction process fall under protected trade secrets and, therefore, are not required to be publicly listed. In a previous ruling on the issue, a district court judge found in favor of the defendants. Some of the richest natural gas reserves now realized to be accessible through fracking are located close to towns and cities in certain states with heavy shale formations like Wyoming, Pennsylvania, and New York.
While some states are fighting to protect energy companies, other municipalities have banned fracking due to concerns over health and environmental risks. According to an article published in the New York Times (10/24/13), bans against hydraulic fracturing are emerging across the US. However, those bans typically face unique legal challenges of their own.
In New York State, where fracking has been increasingly restricted statewide, the small town of Dryden is facing a lawsuit from local energy companies. The lawsuit alleges that municipalities do not have the authority or jurisdiction to impose fracking bans or restrictions. Although a lower court found in favor of the town of Dryden, a higher Court of Appeals has agreed to hear the lawsuit.
Fracking under Scrutiny, Studies Underway to Determine Effects
In light of the controversy and several unknown factors, New York and a few other states are analyzing the health risks associated with fracking. In New York, a five-year study is already underway to evaluate the overall impact of fracking.
Meanwhile, another study recently published in the Environmental Science & Technology Journal suggested that fracking may be linked to increased levels of radioactivity in a nearby water supply. Researchers from Duke University concluded that wastewater from a treatment plant located close to a fracking site may have increased the levels of radium where it discharged into a nearby creek. Study results indicated that radium levels were 200 times higher in samples taken from the creek at the site of the wastewater discharge than they were in samples from an upstream site.
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