Pawnee Nation seeks to halt oil and gas drilling on private land
Monday, December 5, 2016
Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma filed a lawsuit against the federal government to get rid of oil and natural gas permits on tribal land that cause earthquakes in the northern part of the state, according to the Newstimes.
The suit was filed a day after Pawnee residents filed a separate lawsuit in state court against 27 companies they allege operate wastewater injection wells.
The lawsuit makes the claim that drilling permits and leases on tribal-owned lands held in trust have been improperly approved by the Interior Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs and U.S. Bureau of land management.
Learn more: Newstimes > Pawnee Nation lawsuit asks that drilling permits be voided
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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.