I am a retired mining engineer with experience in underground and
surface mining, geological engineering, rock mechanics, landfill
operation, quality assurance and building construction. I am not a
fracking expert, but I am familiar with many issues that can affect
fracking.
No conclusive studies prove that
all elements of a fracking operation are safe and that ground water and
surface water are not contaminated from the fracking process. Fracking
is like cigarette smoking. Many people who smoke never develop cancer,
COPD or other adverse side effects. But the statistical evidence clearly
proves that smokers have a much higher incidence of these maladies than
non-smokers and live shorter lives.
Likewise,
people living in the vicinity of fracking have experienced higher rates
of water, air, and soil contamination than those distant from fracking
operations. There are literally thousands of anecdotal accounts of
wells, springs and surface water that mysteriously went bad, of people
becoming sick and of farm animals dying immediately or soon after a
nearby fracking operation.
Mining,
large-scale timbering, road-building, etc., adversely affect natural
attractions. Should we stop doing all of these things? No, but what we
must do is a thorough analysis to ensure all of the benefits outweigh
all of the costs. Typically, many of the costs are subsidized and paid
for by taxpayers long after the company that reaped the benefits is
gone.
Energy is
very important. But water is even more important. During its
presentation of the proposed plans for the George Washingotn National
Forest, the forest service stated that water is the most important
product of the GWNF. Should we risk the water supply to millions of
people for the sake of a quick energy fix?
I
believe fracking, like mountaintop removal and some other mining
methods, should be banned because of the inherent risks and
environmental damage these cause. There are safer and more
environmentally sound ways of mining and energy production that can help
bridge the gap to the implementation of renewable energy sources such
as wind and solar.
