Fracking

You've probably heard of fracking.  It is slang for hydrofracturing. Hydrofracturing or fracking refers to the process of creating fractures in rocks and rock formations by injecting water and chemicals into cracks in underground rocks to force them further open, which allows oil and gas to flow out of the formation and into a wellbore, from where it can be extracted.

As the natural gas industry uses fracking to exploit once thought inaccessible natural gas fields across the United States, including much of Pennsylvania, we must make sure that energy development does not jeopardize rivers and clean water, including drinking water supplies. The increasing pace of natural gas development threatens rivers and streams that provide clean drinking water, habitat for fish and wildlife, and recreational opportunities for families, like fishing and boating. Natural gas development enjoys exemptions from keystone environmental laws, like the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act, exemptions not provided to other industries.

We support requiring the natural gas industry, along with the rest of the energy industry, to adhere to adequate and enforceable measures to protect our rivers, streams and groundwater from pollution. We also believe particularly sensitive places should remain off limits to energy development to preserve our highest quality clean water.
We must balance development needs with adequate environmental protections for clean water and healthy watersheds. To learn more the issues and impacts related to fracking and the natural gas industry, log onto http://www.fractracker.org/.