Environmentalists sue to stop oil and gas leasing off coast of Alaska
Friday, December 23, 2022
Earlier this week environmental groups sued the Biden administration to block the sale of oil and gas drilling rights off the coast of Alaska that is scheduled for next week, according to WTVB.
The legal action comes as the Interior Department prepares to offer nearly 1 million acres for oil and gas drilling in Cook Inlet on Dec. 30. This sale is among the concessions to the oil and gas sector included in the Inflation Reduction Act.
The Biden administration is required to hold the Cook Inlet sale by Dec. 31 under the law.
Learn more: WTVB > Environmentalists sue to stop U.S. oil and gas auction off Alaska coast
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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.