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Without rigorous safeguards, fracking could lead to poisoned water and blighted landscapes. Hydraulic fracturing operations are already industrializing wild and rural landscapes, and putting agricultural and recreational economies at risk. And the federal government doesn’t require that companies disclose what is in the fracking fluid – letting millions of gallons of toxic fluid into the ground on each drilling site without anyone but the drilling companies knowing what is in it. For example, toxic fracking fluids, including known cancer-causing chemicals like benzene and toluene, are exempt from federal regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act. “Flowback” water can contaminate streams and water supplies. The rush into fracking has not kept pace with important environmental safeguards. Unfortunately, this process can go wrong, and if the oil or gas wells are not built sturdily enough, they can leak and contaminate groundwater.
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Why is fracking dangerous for the environment and people? Stock vector 44844029 Download from Depositphotos Millions of royalty-free vector images & illustrations. However, without rigorous safety regulations, it can poison groundwater, pollute surface water, impair wild landscapes, and threaten wildlife.įracking is done by drilling deep into the earth, then using small explosions and a mix of water, sand, and chemicals to break up shale rock formations that contain natural gas and oil. Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” is revolutionizing oil and gas drilling across the country.