Fracking Fraud

            Scientific American reported what is the first case to be proven by a government agency, the EPA, of water contamination being linked to hydraulic fracturing. This was a mass study, but the positive correlation came from Pavillion, Wyoming.The contaminated water source contained 10 compounds that are known to be used in the fracking process, indicating that the fluids from the fracking most likely leaked into this underground water source. This had long been suspected, but never had there been a study conducted by a government agency that linked the two together. The report from the EPA contradicts statements put out by the drilling industry of why fracking is safe. This seems to me like that they knew the problems all along, but were more determined to make a profit than worry about the safety of citizens and the environment. The contaminated water is used for bathing and drinking in Pavillion. A study on water samples from Pavillion in 2008 showed contaminants in the water. Another study in 2010 resulted in the EPA and federal health officials telling citizens to not drink the water and ventilate during bathing to prevent explosions from built up methane. The companies drilling combated these studies by claiming that the contamination was naturally caused and has no relation to their fracking operation. Some politicians are even siding with the fracking companies going as far as Senator James Inhofe calling the studies “offensive”. It seems hard to believe that someone would call a study that is to benefit the health of the public offensive. A situation like this will really start to go downhill when it becomes up for debate. This study will hopefully convince the public that fracking does cause harm to the land and people and that this is not an opinion. The real difficult part will be to try to convince a public that fracking is not worth the damage in the long run.