CONFIRMED: Fracking Is Putting Millions Of American Lives At Risk


Those still in denial about the harmful effects of fracking now have a new piece of evidence to contend with. For the first time ever, the U.S. Geological Survey has identified areas that at-risk for potentially serious damage from both natural and man-made earthquakes. The recently published report shows more than seven million people in danger zones throughout the eastern and central United States. These areas are typically not listed as areas to watch for potential earthquakes until the man-made variety were added.

Mark Petersen, Chief of the USGS National Seismic Hazard Mapping Project, said in an email to the press:

“By including human-induced events, our assessment of earthquake hazards has significantly increased in parts of the U.S.”

The USGS is clear in their assessment: increased fractured drilling (or fracking) can linked to a measurable increase in seismic activity. They created a map (shown below) illustrating the hot spots.

https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/ofr20161035
Credit: USGS

The USGS assessment comes on the heels of another report on the impacts of fracking. Environment America published a report late last week called “Fracking by the Numbers: the Damage to Our Water, Land and Climate from a Decade of Dirty Drilling.” Researchers examined ten years’ worth of data to measure potential harm to the environment and public health. Their findings provide further evidence that America’s current addiction to fracking will come at a high price.

The process of fracking depends on the use of millions of gallons of water. Multiple examples are cited of water shortages as well as the identification of contaminated water near fracking sites. From the report:

“Unlike most industrial uses of water, in which water returns to the water cycle for further use, water used in fracking typically cannot be cleaned up for a broad range of other uses. Water used in fracking either remains in the well, is “recycled” (used in the fracking of new wells), or is disposed of in deep injection wells, where it is unavailable to recharge aquifers. Thus, fracking takes billions of gallons out of the water supply annually.” 

The numbers offered by the researchers are nothing short of astounding. The environment impact of fracking since 2005 includes:

  • At least 137,000 fracking wells dug since 2005
  • At least 269 billion gallons of water used since 2005
  • At least 14 billion gallons of toxic wastewater produced in 2014
  • Land Directly Damaged since 2005 = 679,000 acres
  • Methane pollution = at  least 5.3 billion pounds

Prominent Republicans continue to turn a blind eye to damaging consequences of fracking. Just last week, GOP frontrunner Donald Trump was lamenting how the state of New York missed the boat by banning fracking.

“It’s a terrible situation, and New York is in deep trouble. As you know, we didn’t take advantage of our energy situation, and now it’s very late because the prices are so much lower.”

A looming crisis that demands immediate attention will likely have to wait until after November’s election. Then an informed debate on fracking can resume both in Washington and around the country.

Featured image by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images.

Jeff is reformed conservative who is happy to be thinking for himself again. He's an aspiring author working on his first book. Follow #Brick_Says