Ohio bill to allow use of fracking brine to de-ice roads
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Legislators in an Ohio House committee are expected to consider legislation that would allow a byproduct of hydraulic fracturing to be used to remove ice from roadways, according to WVXU in Cincinnati.
House Bill 393, which was introduced in October, would allow the sale of drilling brine for surface applications such as de-icing roadways.
The bipartisan bill is co-sponsored by Republican state Rep. Anthony Devitis and Democrat state Rep. Michael O’Brien.
Learn more: WVXU Cincinnati > Could a fracking byproduct help defrost roads? Ohio legislators think so
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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.