Shale drilling has little impact on Pennsylvania elk herds
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Many people show concern for the environmental impacts of the shale industry, but a sigh of relief can be had as Pennsylvania’s elk population prospers.
The Bradford Era reports that since the Marcellus shale industry took hold in 2008, the state’s elk have adapted to changes in the landscape. The shale industry requires well construction, machinery, traffic and noise, but these factors haven’t driven the elk away. Instead, their number has almost doubled in less than seven years.
Oil and gas companies are working to minimize the impact on Pennsylvania’s forests by restoring well sites, which ultimately improves the habitats for elk and other wildlife.
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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.