Fracking is hydraulic fracturing, a process which has become quite popular in the past few years. Fracking is done by injecting water, chemicals and sand into the ground with shale in order to obtain oil and natural gas. As the use of fracking has grown as has the concerns surrounding the process. Many groups have warned that the process is putting chemicals into the environment, especially into water.
Recently residents in Pennsylvania have voiced concern over the fracking process polluting drinking water, noted by both residents and environmental groups in the state. The popularity of fracking in the eastern United States is growing, however, not without public backlash and concern from officials. Officials in the state of New York have expressed concerns over allowing fracking amidst rising pollution and other side effects, such as earthquakes.
Those in the fracking industry have admitted to the fact that the process can cause earthquakes in nearby regions. Earthquakes in both the states of Oklahoma and Ohio recently have been found to have been caused by fracking in the region, namely due to wells in which liquids from the process are stored in the earth. There are 177 such fracking deep disposal wells across the state of Ohio, a state which is not known for, but has recently experienced, a number of earthquakes.
Eleven earthquakes were noted in the region of Youngstown, Ohio in the year of 2011 beginning in March, around the time fracking processes also began. The last earthquake experienced in the region was on December 31st, a magnitude 4.0. According to those working in the fracking industry, the process simply increases the likelihood of quakes already set to occur at some point and does not create them entirely. Unfortunately, experts do not know whether a massive earthquake, one that would cause great destruction, could be triggered by the fracking process.
As in Ohio, Oklahoma is also experiencing side effects from the fracking process. A recent earthquake of the magnitude 5.6 occurred outside Oklahoma City. Officials have not confirmed a direct link to fracking, however, experts believe it is highly likely.
A geophysicist for the U.S. Geological Survey, Art McGarr, spoke of the issue: “To the extent that our nation wants to become independent of meeting its energy needs in the coming years, the increased earthquakes are going to go along with that. The problems are only going to grow in the future.”
