Fracking

Fracking, a radically new and improved way to collect oil, seems to be getting much publicity. What is it? Is it safe, and what are the potential effects? These are the questions that seem to be asked after each news story or mention of fracking to the public. An incident in Pavillion, Wyoming seems to maybe answer some of these questions for us...

Fracking seems to do no harm. It is a relatively simple process that brings the much envied oil to the surface to be used or sold. But citizens in Pavillion have a very different emotion towards it... People began to notice a drastic change in the water quality near where the fracking took place. Upon going out to the well to get water, citizens would discover that the water was completely brown and continued to go into sinks and showers that way. Upon contacting the EPA, the water was tested, and the pollutants found were the same components of the fracking process.

So, is it really safe? Well, if you try to call the drilling company to ask prepared to be ignored. Shoot an email to them and their response will be that the pollutants found in the water (you know, the ones that are identical to the ones used for fracking) are "natural" pollutants and are definitely not their doing. The EPA is still investigating the pollution claims and cannot completely confirm that fracking is the cause until further research is conducted. I can almost guarantee you, however, that I know exactly what they will find... and it will not be in the oil company's favor.