Fracking Natural Gas on NPR
Drilling for natural gas, using the controversial technique of fracking (hydraulic fracturing) is coming to Ulysses. Residents who want to know more about about fracking can listen to a summary on the subject that was just broadcast on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Natural gas industry lobbyists say that there’s no reason to think that there’s ever any risks associated with fracking. People who live near wells where fracking has occurred complain of damaging changes in water pressure, as well as a nasty oily film in the water they drink. Then there’s the case of a couple in Ohio, living on the Marcellus Shale, whose house exploded because of natural gas leaking out of their drinking well after fracking was done near their home.
Right now, Halliburton (yes, that Halliburton) claims an exemption from laws that would otherwise require the company to report the toxic chemicals found in the fluids used in the fracking process. U.S. Representative Diana DeGette plans to introduce a bill to Congress that would close that loophole.
The natural gas under Ulysses isn’t going anywhere. Will residents be willing to wait to sign leases until a new law provides them with more information about the substances that they, and their neighbors, may have to deal with?
It is disturbing that the government does not require Big Oil and Big Gas to report for ANY chemicals involved in this process. This only shows how desperate our polticians are. It is true that our politicians are supposed to work FOR the PEOPLE, that is: the citizens that elected them to their posts. Yet in REALITY they work for BIG COMPANIES through their LOBBYISTS. Our government has forgotten its people: enter came the current economical situation. The government has sold its soul and responsibilities to the BIG COMPANIES to be popular and be called a “Great Democracy” while failing to do for the small companies and the employees. How can the government explain the hundreds of thousands of jobs lost in the Automobile Industry? How do they explain the bailout of The Banking Giants? I believe it is not the CEO’s who should have a say now but rather the TAXPAYER! WE bailed them out THROUGH OUR TAXES! Halliburton, BP and other BIG OIL/BIG GAS should be regulated in a stricter manner. The health issues that arise later will cost a lot of money not only to the gov’t but the citizen as well and in the end, the companies are not held responsible. Wake up people, hold your elected politicians and government accountable!
In Pa. any chemical used in any means by a company must be registered with the local permitting agent our there will be no permits issued. The MSDA sheets must be filed with all incase of spill or fire. The only thing not knowed is the exact mix. But I gas if your anti anything you can tell half truths
I am beyond upset that the oil and gas industry continuously refers to all incidents as “claims” and refuses to acknowledge responsiblity of any amount ever! Many people’s wells near my home were affected after they drilled here. Including my home, our well lost water and now stinks like eggs and gas after they drilled for natural gas beside us. Do you think any of our cases are logged and known by anyone else besides us? NO! This is why they keep getting away with it. Don’t think we didn’t call every state and local service to try to get help. All we ended up getting was a very serious smack in the face of how the governing utilites and enviro resource overseers are ALL bought out by the oil and natural gas companies. Unless someone lucks out and can afford a good lawyer who will go all the way., NO one will see the real impact of how bad the ground water is being contaminated. This is a mess our children will be left with and something that many of us are already facing. As a whole, we seem to be way to concerned for the present and how cheap we can get away with doing everything, rather then watching the destructive ways of our bad habits.
Michelle,
I am a number of people in a given area that is contemplating selling rights to gas exploration companies. We too hear the constant claim that there has never been a ground water pollution incident as the result of Marcellus gas exploration. Please e-mail me to the address above. I would like to hear your story.
to all that say drilling gas is bad one doing selling are bad buy land do what you want with it let us as land onwer do what we want do with my land no tell you have ave drilling truck in your home back off what i can do in my home we have farm all you made big dill abot cow smell dint want working land now ween we want do some with make us some $$ back on land pay for all life back off from bob the farmer