Activity 4.2.1 – Applying My Environmental Policy Frameworks

Risk

Hydrofracking is the practice of extracting natural gas or oil from geological shale rock formations, and during this process, drilling operators force water, sand, and a mix of chemicals into horizontally drilled wells, causing the shale to crack and release natural gas or oil. Although research is still continuing, few studies have provided evidence about how unconventional natural gas development affects nearby communities. However, citizens as well as environmental advocates, and some researchers have expressed concerns about potential effects on water, air, and communities (NIH, 2017). If chemicals used during hydrofracking reach the underground drinking water source the water is not only dangerous for humans, but a possible danger for the environment as well since water is an essential need for everything. The process of hydrofracking also involves combustion which can release toxic chemicals into the air affecting air quality. Hydrofracking can also release a greenhouse gas called methane which can affect the ozone layer. Hydrofracking contributes to climate change and the rise of hearth temperature. In fact, “In 2017, methane (CH4) accounted for about 10.2 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from human activities” (EPA,2019).

Technological

Hydraulic fracturing involves cracking rock formations by pumping fluid into wells at high pressure, forcing oil or gas out of the rock. The fluid that is pumped into the well to fracture the rock is called slickwater. It is mostly water, though it also can contain a wide range of additives and chemicals that serve an engineering purpose. Hydrofracking is not 100% clean and safe for the environment and for human health. However, many are the solution that present technology offers to make hydrofracking safer. The first option is to use less water during the fracking process. Traditional fracking systems use large amounts of water, therefore using water-free fracking systems can save a lot of water. It is also possible to use recycled water for hydrofracking in order to “conserve freshwater as well as reduce the water pollution” (OSU, n.d.). Also, “replacing diesel-powered equipment with engines that use natural gas or solar panels will reduce the large amount of harmful gases emitted and lower the overall damage to the environment” (OSU, n.d.). Furthermore, it is also possible to clean the wastewater produced by hydrofracking in order to prevent the contamination of underground water with chemicals. Moreover, it is possible to reduce methane leaks. “There are two improvements that can reduce methane leaks, one of them is using infrared cameras that can detect leaks at fracking sites. The other improvement is replacing traditional pressure-monitoring pneumatic controllers to lower-bleed designs.” (OSU, n.d)

Fact-Finding

With the discovery of Hydro-fracking, what are some of the things we have learned from it's methods? To start off, we have found out that extremely difficult to acquire this natural gas, once believing that is was impossible to ever obtain it. With collecting this gas, there are many risks that come along with it, for instance, severe pollution of local waterways all around the United States. This could even pollute the atmosphere due to how Hydro-fracking produces large amounts of Methane. If the Methane is not properly dealt with, it slowly damages the atmosphere. On the other hand, there are some beneficial aspects to Hydro-fracking, such as providing U.S. citizens with many needed jobs. Also, Hydro-fracking playing a crucial role in the development of the United States economy, providing an estimate of $11.8 billion to the U.S. GDP; an expected $231.1 billion dollars to be reached by the year 2035.

Ethic

There are many theories about environmental ethics and people have different ideas about how important the environment is and why. According to the Deep Ecology theory or movement, nature has an intrinsic value. More precisely, humans, animal non-humans and their biotic and a-biotic environment are valuable as totality. So, according to this theory, it is the entire system of relationship between those elements that matter (Næss, 1989). Environmental ethics oppose the idea that everything in the universe has been created for man and his needs, so that man is the center of the universe and can consider himself the measure of all things. Ethics like the Deep Ecology contrast the idea of man as the measure of all things. Instead, they consider nature as something valuable per se. When something is valuable and has an intrinsic value, it means that that element needs to be protected independently from the advantage we can get from it.

Legal and Political Actions

In the United State, there are no federal laws regarding hydrofracking. There are different laws that protect safe water, air, the environment and public health. However, hydrofracking companies are usually exempted to respect them. They are exempted from “Safe Drinking Water Act; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act; the Clean Water Act; the Clean Air Act; the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; and the National Environmental Policy Act” so “hydrofracking companies no longer had to meet the strict air and water regulations that protect the environment” (Cohen, 2014). At the present time, hydrofracking is only regulated by state and local law and regulation. In Texas, hydrofracking companies are required to list the volume of water and chemicals used in the fracking process. However, this requirement is not retroactive and fracking companies are required to share their fracking chemicals only after the job is done. Hydrofracking require a stricter local and States regulation as well as well-developed federal laws that assure a cleaner and safe hydrofracking.

WORK CITED

“How and Where Is Waste Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Disposed?” American Geosciences Institute, 18 Aug. 2017, https://www.americangeosciences.org/critical-issues/faq/how-and-where-is-waste-hydraulic-fracturing-fluid-disposed.

EPA, (2019), Overview of Greenhouse Gases., Environmental Protection Agency, https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases

NIH (2017), Hydraulic Fracturing &

Health., National Insitute of Environmental Health Science, https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/fracking/index.cfm.