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FRACSYLVANIA

An in-depth report on the controversy surrounding hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the Marcellus Shale region. Explore the history, legislation, recent lawsuits, and views of interest groups and political parties. Learn about public opinion and the environmental impact of fracking.

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FRACSYLVANIA

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  1. FRACSYLVANIA • An in-depth report on the controversy surrounding hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale region. • By: • Caleb Haynos • Samuel “TRON” Pepper • Josh Boyer

  2. What is fracking? • “fracking”= hydraulic fracturing • process by which natural gas is collected from bedrock • uses high-pressured water and other materials to fracture the rock • this releases the natural gas • Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ned5L04o8w&feature=related

  3. History • 1st brought to U.S 1816 • Used for residential, commercial, electric generation, and industrial • Natural Gas Act 1938 • Regualted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today 

  4. What's Good Now • Amwell Township sits on the Marcellus Shale Deposit • Stretches 575 miles (West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York) • 2008 Range Resources earned rights to start Hydraulic Fracking • Residents & officials are divided

  5. PROS • Less dependent on foreign oils • Economic Benefits • Burns clean than other fossil fuels • Makes time to build alternative energies • Financially viable

  6. CONS • Lack Skills to operate machinery • Contaminates & requires drinking water • Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LBjSXWQRV8 • Produces more emission than coal • Has been linked to earthquakes • Housing has become scarce • Companies can conceal chemicals used in process

  7. Legislation • June 2009, Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act was introduced to the House and Senate • House introducers: Dina DeGette (D-CO), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), and Jared Polis (D-CO) • Senate introducers: Bob Casey (D-PA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) • proposed to amend Safe Drinking-Water Act • allowing EPA to regulate fracking in certain states • test water for chemicals • bill did not pass then, and hasn’t been re-introduced since

  8. Recent Lawsuits • May 2011 Quebec, Jessica Ernst sued Encana Corp. and local government for contamination of her drinking water due to Encana’s fracking. • Morgantown, WV June 2011, Northeast Natural Energy sues town for banning fracking within its borders

  9. Interest Groups • The Sierra Club • “Explore, Enjoy, and Protect the Planet” • want to increase scrutiny gas-drilling practices • national and state standards to protect our air and water • if we can’t protect health and environment, then we shouldn’t be drilling. • National Republican Senatorial Committee • group committed to getting Republicans elected to Senate • believe in energy independence • support natural gas drilling • oppose national energy tax

  10. Democrat position • support the potential energy independence that comes from fracking • support environmental protection and clean energy sources • democratic senators and representatives introduced FRAC act in 2009 • Michigan democrats called for a 2-yr ban on all fracking in the US

  11. Republican Position • support fracking and its energy independence • opposed to regulating and taxing gas companies • taxes will hurt small businesses and kill jobs

  12. Green Party Position • against fracking, period. • “no one -- including people of color and the poor -- should be poisoned nor subjected to harmful levels of toxic chemicals” • call for stricter environmental regulations on energy companies • support the National Energy Tax

  13. Public Opinion Polls statistics come from a September 2011 Quinnipiac University poll of New York citizens.

  14. Public Opinon Polls cont. statistics come from a September 2011 Quinnipiac University poll of New York citizens.

  15. What do you think this cartoon’s message is? http://www.intoon.com/toons/2011/KeefeM20110427A.jpg

  16. What do you think this cartoon’s message is? http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BcufuO6D7QY/TLAu89RblhI/AAAAAAAAAfk/OKWdk0Z5IUo/s400/FrackingCartoon.jpeg

  17. sources • http://www.naturalgas.org/overview/history.asp • http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/magazine/fracking-amwell-township.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all • http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/15/us/hydraulic-fracturing-brings-money-and-problems-to-pennsylvania.html?pagewanted=all • http://geology.com/articles/marcellus-shale.shtml • http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/65770088 • http://articles.philly.com/2011-05-03/news/29499333_1_drilling-companies-severance-tax-marcellus-shale • http://michiganradio.org/post/michigan-state-democrats-call-%E2%80%9Cfracking%E2%80%9D-moratorium • http://www.nrsc.org/about-the-nrsc/views-and-issues/ • http://www.nrsc.org/about-the-nrsc/views-and-issues/

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