Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Should Fracking be Allowed?

Injecting water into the ground at high pressure in order to fracture rock so that natural gas is able to be released in called "fracking." This method is controversial because there is a correlation between this type of drilling and an increased rate of seismic activity. This is especially prevalent in the state of Arkansas. According to Fox News, "Ninety percent of earthquakes that have happened since 2009 have been within 6 kilometers of the salt water disposal wells."

Fracking may not be good for our environment, but economically it is very profitable. There are 412 companies now associated with the oil and gas industry, according Shane Khoury, deputy director and general counsel for the Oil and Gas Commission. These companies provide jobs and pump money into the economy where the drilling occurs.

What is more important to our communities, the economy or the profit? Does a major accident have to happen before the fracking danger is consedered further?

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