Letter: Fracking like cigarette smoking

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.