Why do some people support Hydraulic Fracturing?
And the opponents rebuttals.
1.) America
is situated on one of the world’s largest natural gas deposits.
Rebuttal
Just because something is there doesn't mean that we should extract it. There are dangers for extracting anything for the earth and the dangers outweigh the benefits.
2.) Hydraulic Fracturing has been happening for the past 60 years with a relatively good safety record.
Rebuttal
There are documentaries such as Gasland that show actual cases of the dangers of hydraulic fracturing. While there hasn't been a tragedy on the scale of Chernobyl do we really need to wait until that happens to act? Can't we learn from our past and prevent a natural disaster from occurring before it happens.
3.) Hydraulic Fracturing safety is high if it is performed to the minimum standards and guidelines.
Rebuttal
Yes Hydraulic Fracturing is safe if all of the guidelines are followed. The repercussion for not following the proper procedures doesn’t seem in line with the potential benefits of cutting corners. If a company can save $40 million by cutting corners but potential fines are only $1 million why would they spend the extra money?
Rebuttal
Just because something is there doesn't mean that we should extract it. There are dangers for extracting anything for the earth and the dangers outweigh the benefits.
2.) Hydraulic Fracturing has been happening for the past 60 years with a relatively good safety record.
Rebuttal
There are documentaries such as Gasland that show actual cases of the dangers of hydraulic fracturing. While there hasn't been a tragedy on the scale of Chernobyl do we really need to wait until that happens to act? Can't we learn from our past and prevent a natural disaster from occurring before it happens.
3.) Hydraulic Fracturing safety is high if it is performed to the minimum standards and guidelines.
Rebuttal
Yes Hydraulic Fracturing is safe if all of the guidelines are followed. The repercussion for not following the proper procedures doesn’t seem in line with the potential benefits of cutting corners. If a company can save $40 million by cutting corners but potential fines are only $1 million why would they spend the extra money?
Why are some people afraid of Hydraulic Fracturing?
1.)
All of the potential side effect of Hydraulic Fracturing are not known. OR
another way this argument is worded is
There is not enough evidence that Hydraulic Fracturing is actually safe.
Rebuttal
There is always going to be either someone that refuses to believe the evidence or refuse to believe the validity of the experts presenting the evidence. There is still educated people that believe that the world is flat. Flat Earth Society has over 3000 members and publishes scientific articles explaining their point of view. Regardless of any evidence presented in opposition to their claim they still hold their original viewpoint. This is the same group that proposed that the Apollo Moon landings were a hoax staged by Hollywood.
http://www.alaska.net/~clund/e_djublonskopf/Flatearthsociety.htm
2.) Hydraulic Fracturing can cause earthquakes by lubricating fault lines.
Rebuttal
When fracking fluid is injected into the well there has been reports of local earthquakes usually of a 4.0 magnitude or smaller.
3.) There is no one in charge of oversight (or those in charge cannot be trusted) and/or the punishments for safety violations is minimal.
Rebuttal
Absolute power always has a chance to corrupt absolutely. As long as there is human oversight there is the chance for human creed or avarice to be a factor. This is why there are multiple checks and balances in place. The public backlash from being exposed as a company that was intentionally and knowingly poisoning citizen’s ground water would be devastating. This more than the potential fines is what keeps companies in check.
4.) Hydraulic Fracturing can allow seepage of the fracking fluid and poisonous or radioactive materials into the ground water. An example of this is presented in Gasland where the claim that fracking caused methane to leak into the ground water. The methane was so bad that residents were able to light their faucets on fire.
Rebuttal
The well water test are conducted after fracking has occurred. The amount of toxic or radioactive material in most cases has been in line with normally occurring amounts found in drinking water. Most cases the same testing was not done before the fracking occurred so it is difficult to definitively draw a direct correlation.
5.) The amount of water used is 2-3 million gallons of water for a horizontal fracturing well compared to 25-30 thousand gallons of water for a traditional hydraulic fractured well.
Rebuttal
This is why the water is kept in above ground storage tanks on site and transported to be treated according to guidelines. Some states guidelines allow the tainted water to be sprayed onto local vegetation where it has caused environmental damage.
There is not enough evidence that Hydraulic Fracturing is actually safe.
Rebuttal
There is always going to be either someone that refuses to believe the evidence or refuse to believe the validity of the experts presenting the evidence. There is still educated people that believe that the world is flat. Flat Earth Society has over 3000 members and publishes scientific articles explaining their point of view. Regardless of any evidence presented in opposition to their claim they still hold their original viewpoint. This is the same group that proposed that the Apollo Moon landings were a hoax staged by Hollywood.
http://www.alaska.net/~clund/e_djublonskopf/Flatearthsociety.htm
2.) Hydraulic Fracturing can cause earthquakes by lubricating fault lines.
Rebuttal
When fracking fluid is injected into the well there has been reports of local earthquakes usually of a 4.0 magnitude or smaller.
3.) There is no one in charge of oversight (or those in charge cannot be trusted) and/or the punishments for safety violations is minimal.
Rebuttal
Absolute power always has a chance to corrupt absolutely. As long as there is human oversight there is the chance for human creed or avarice to be a factor. This is why there are multiple checks and balances in place. The public backlash from being exposed as a company that was intentionally and knowingly poisoning citizen’s ground water would be devastating. This more than the potential fines is what keeps companies in check.
4.) Hydraulic Fracturing can allow seepage of the fracking fluid and poisonous or radioactive materials into the ground water. An example of this is presented in Gasland where the claim that fracking caused methane to leak into the ground water. The methane was so bad that residents were able to light their faucets on fire.
Rebuttal
The well water test are conducted after fracking has occurred. The amount of toxic or radioactive material in most cases has been in line with normally occurring amounts found in drinking water. Most cases the same testing was not done before the fracking occurred so it is difficult to definitively draw a direct correlation.
5.) The amount of water used is 2-3 million gallons of water for a horizontal fracturing well compared to 25-30 thousand gallons of water for a traditional hydraulic fractured well.
Rebuttal
This is why the water is kept in above ground storage tanks on site and transported to be treated according to guidelines. Some states guidelines allow the tainted water to be sprayed onto local vegetation where it has caused environmental damage.