What the Frack?

Yes, you read this correctly...
As turmoil continues in the Middle East and gas prices soar, everyone is feeling the pinch on the cost not only on the gas to fill up their cars, but the cost of everyday things as well. If you have noticed when you go the grocery stores, the weekly grocery list still remains the same, but seems to be costing you more...

If the crisis in the Gulf (specifically this past Summer, but the damage is still ongoing) didn't scare Americans to start turning away from our oil dependency, perhaps this next bit of info. will.

Fracking (hydraulic fracking or hydrofracking) is a the "new" and hotness to drilling natural gas. This is process is resulted by 'fracturing' rocks, more specifically Shale and/or Coal rock beds. This fracturing is done through by a drill that digs a hole or well into a reservoir within this rock formation to increase the rate of extracting the oil and natural gas.
Seems quick and harmless right? What better way to satisfy our oil addiction than to drill from a land source that is in our country!

I will give you the facts and the research. You can decide which side you will be on.

Fractures in rock beds can be man-made or natural (frost weathering) by internal fluid pressure that opens the fractures through the rocks. Man-made fractures are created by introducing a proppant material (made of sand grains, ceramics, and other chemical particulates that will be injected at high pressure into the rock bore to allow the natural gas to flow more freely.

Seems harmless right? But, it gets better...

This process is being used quite a but in western PA in an area that that has Marcellus Shale rock formation. This area was once inaccessible, but advances in drilling technology have enabled companies to tap into the the slightly regulated world of fracking! Granted, these areas that this technology is being used, is rich in oil. Yes, Americans DO need to lay off our addiction of foreign oil. Using domestic sources will temporary help ween Americans off our oil dependence, until we finally realize there are other sources.

Now, the issue is the following: the wastewater generated from the fracking process poses a serious health risk. Not to mention, the process in general; the high pressure could cause cracks in the rock beds, that could allow for this toxic mixture (that contains trace amounts of radiation; radium and uranium, all of which are cancer causing) into local water tables as well as bring radioactive material towards the surface, but some of the wastewater that has been allowed to be treated at the local sewage treatment plants can not be cleaned and extract the chemicals from the fracking process. So, what water is safe to drink?

Drilling natural gas from the Marcellus Shale has been occurring for years towards the North and West of New Jersey. But new research supports, and many environmentalists now fear, that there is another potential gas-rich rock formation. This formation is located in northwest New Jersey and is comprised of Utica, also known as Martinsburg Shale near the Kittatinny Mountain area around the Delaware Water Gap and High Point, New Jersey.  Current drilling that is already too close to home resides across the river in northeast Pennsylvania. As mentioned before, this fracking process does have significant toxic waste as a result. The fear is tainting the Delaware River Basin which provides as a water sources for communities and cities along the Delaware River.

Natural Gas Wells in Delaware River Basin
Courtesy of Delaware River Basin Commission

The question on the minds of environmentalists is not a matter of 'if' fracking occurs in New Jersey...it is a matter of 'when.' Especially considering New Jersey does not have any kind of regulation against drill companies from 'exploring' for natural gas in our fine state. Some scientists believe that 'when' might not be an issue to raise alarm considering that Utica Shale may not have potential for natural gas.
This is still too close to home...

Drilling companies need to uphold the standards of The Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act, to make sure that the quality and clarity of the drinking water is a top priority. But then, you have cases like this:

If there were stricter regulations and lack of oversight... This would not be an issue.

So just think about it: Where do you stand on this process of extracting natural oil? Would you rather want to save an extra few bucks at the gas pumps, or save the precious clean water we drink that everyone takes for granted?

In the country of the free and a land of (where it seems like there are) limitless resources for the luxury of life, clean water and water conservation is a HUGE issue that needs to be addressed today, before we deplete our water resources for tomorrow. Want to lean how to conserve more water?

One idea, one step, one person at a time, we can change this world. 
~ V.S.