3,800 sign petition against fracking under the Ohio River
Monday, December 1, 2014
Water contamination, global warming and earthquakes are among the concerns of 3,800 West Virginians who signed a petition to prevent fracking under the Ohio River, reports WTOV.
The Ohio River supplies drinking water to about five million people. Recently, a water scare in Charleston left 300,000 without drinkable water, prompting concern for citizens who could be affected if the river’s water was contaminated by fracking.
As of now, no contracts have been finalized and no permits have been issued for drilling under the river. Money made from fracking under the river would go to the Department of Natural Resources for upgrades at state parks.
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.