quit "urging" and demand....write a law. We need to know what is going into the land. Google Native Tribe officially affected by fracking. It DID get into their well water. It did cause health problems. I am amazed I don't see more of these stories in the news.

Bush pushed for the "halliburton exclusion' which allowed fracking companies to keep the chemicals used in fracking a secret. Wonder why? Benzene, tolulene and a host of other toxic chemicals are used in a toxic brew. The industry uses fresh drinking water, billions of gallons, poisons it and, theoretically, buries it below the water table.

Two serious flaws with that. First, the water is never going to be usable again, burying it kinda keeps it from recycling. Secondly, the holes must be drilled and the water pumped in, and, as we all know, no drilling ever goes bad, no leaks or cracks ever happen.

The little ejit at the EPA, the one wanting to crucify and make 'examples' of companies set environmental laws back big time. Now the EPA has egg on their face and the polluting industries can cry foul any and every time they get smacked for non-compliance.

The meme of 'jobs, jobs, jobs' which republicans are always tossing out is so short-sighted as to be laughable. Jobs are great but if you kill or sicken the populace and environment as a result of those 'jobs' who pays for all the medical bills?

Why dont YOU do some actual research. How is it that chemicals get into the well water when the average fracked well is thousands, yes thats thousands of feet deeper than the water tables you Libtards claim it effects. Hmm? Btw I work in the industry so yeah I do know.

Benzene is an additive in Gasoline to increase the Octane. Why would they put it in a fracking solution? Hmm?

http://www.care2.com/causes/epa-links-wyoming-water-pollution-to-fracking.html

Fracking contaminated the water in Pavillion Wyoming.

as my brother in law in brooklyn would say "Donts yous worry 'bouts what i'ms doing with des fracking chemicals you fracking ahole, des are mine fracking chemicals and i'll fracking dos whats i want wit dem, if you fracking dont like it you can go frack yourself you fracking jerk.

Hope he doesn't read this, he will so kick my arse.

First off I live in Wyoming. Second I grew up near Pavillion and the water has ALWAYS been bad there long before fracking. Third that picture they showed of a pristine mountain area being ravaged by big oil? THATS NO WHERE NEAR PAVILLION. Pavillion is more or less pretty barren. READ BOTH SIDES.

Why just on federal lands? Is that land more important than private land? Isn't federal land owned by the citizens of the US? Or is it owned by the UN now? I work in the business and it scares me whats going on and living in the country I worry about my own wells. I get them tested 2 times a yr to see when the contamination starts. Nothing yet. Casing rusts out and pressure migrates up the outside of the casing to the water table. If you don't think it can happen, your nieve. Especially if Halliburten did the cement job.

@someonespecial

You sound very sure of that. Your proof? Are you a geologist? Environmental Scientist? You have some studies and reports that prove all of this,right?

geeeeeeeeeeeee suuuuus

writting laws by the each is their plan

assume they will pimp their dead grandmothers ass for a dollar (O-thats not an assumtion)

AND look at the past!

Good question. If the drillers know what they're using they should be able give that information without delay.

On the other hand, the government certainly has enough experts to evaluate and respond promptly.

As a gasoline (petrol) additive, benzene increases the octane rating and reduces knocking. As a consequence, gasoline often contained several percent benzene before the 1950s, when tetraethyl lead replaced it as the most widely-used antiknock additive. With the global phaseout of leaded gasoline, benzene has made a comeback as a gasoline additive in some nations. In the United States, concern over its negative health effects and the possibility of benzene's entering the groundwater have led to stringent regulation of gasoline's benzene content, with limits typically around 1%.^[39] European petrol specifications now contain the same 1% limit on benzene content. The United States Environmental Protection Agency‎ introduced new regulations in 2011 that lowered the benzene content in gasoline to 0.62%.^[40]

One way the water is compromised by franking chemicals is the actual moving of aquifers on the map such as in Texas. Of course the aquifer moves only on the map by pure lobbying strength. Amazing!

That's right, the US government should represent the people and their health and well being over the interests of corporate profit, and demand full disclosure of the toxic chemicals being pumped into the earth.

Many of us are doing our part by reducing energy use in our daily lives. Our health, the environment and the future depend on making wise and relatively safe energy decisions. Some even go car-free regularly and bike for work or shopping. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou1AvKDicxA

someonespecial - In the cases I have seen that have well water coming out of faucets in homes that you can light with a match, there was no problem before the fracking. They were functioning farms that relied on their well water for their livestock, crops and themselves. If there is no cause and effect, then why are these companies who are doing the fracking providing these families with bottled water? Of course you can't wash dishes and clothes and bodies with the bottled water they supply let alone provide drinking water for your livestock or water for your crops.

Because of people like you!!! Public relations!!

Fracking fluid doen't burn and the well depth is 8 - 10 thousand feet below the aquifer. Actually I would personally be more afraid a the acid they wash the well bore and factures with.

IF I was inclined to be afraid!!!

Tap water in Gillette Wy has been venting Methane and could be "Lit on Fire" for years and years long before Fracking. Do you know why? Methane gas deposits in the Coal beds around here.

TXHorseman

Read all of these and you will begin to discover WHY gasoline is $4.00 a gallon

Yeah. It's called Goldman-Sachs and unregulated futures and "doing God's work".

Erik, you apparently only read what you want

“…the EPA said that pollution from 33 abandoned oil and gas waste pits – which are the subject of a separate cleanup program – are indeed responsible for some degree of shallow groundwater pollution in the area. Those pits may be the source of contamination affecting at least 42 private water wells in Pavillion. But the pits could not be blamed for contamination detected in the water monitoring wells 1,000 feet underground.

not fracking or fracking chemicals but abandoned oil and gas watse pits are responsible to some degree of shallow groundwater polution

Of course thats not what the lefties and the headline says, its only what the article you quoted says

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/epa-links-wyoming-water-pollution-to-fracking.html#ixzz1tvJm2Ky8

Well, I'm all for producing our own energy. I live in Texas and not too far from the Eagleford Shale. Now, no one is addressing how the water used in fracking is forever lost. Water is used to frack while towns are running out of water, reservoirs are running dry and the drought isn't over by a long shot. My primary argument against fracking is that the poisoned water is buried. Think about it. It can't evaporate and return to the cycle, nope, it is buried. Soooo, that water is gone, never to be used again, billions upon billions of gallons of water, clean water that sustains life is poisoned and buried. What on earth is good about that? When you have a drought, a spreading drought, and the available water that people need to survive is sold to companies to poison? Please.

Your right Thomas the actual COST of producing and refining oil HAS nothing to do with price!! Right????

Oil price goes up, so will gasoline. Futures or not!!

RMJ Winterland

You must be quite educated, someonespecial since you work in that industry and toss around infantile words like "libtards"...way to bring people together. Sure hope you don't get poisoned at work...or fall into a well...or get your empty f-ucking head blown off by a sniper for being such a prick.

Sooo im not bringing people together by saying Libtard but you are by threatening my life?

What kind of bunk are we reading. PA requires that only state approved chemicals be used in Fracking. Most states have already followed suites. The fed getting involved at this point is only going cause more jobs to be lost while the Fed interferes.

Obama needs to be making an environment that employers feel comfortable enough invest in new products and services which is when jobs will start being created.

someonespecial

Why dont YOU do some actual research. How is it that chemicals get into the well water when the average fracked well is thousands, yes thats thousands of feet deeper than the water tables you Libtards claim it effects. Hmm? Btw I work in the industry so yeah I do know.

Benzene is an additive in Gasoline to increase the Octane. Why would they put it in a fracking solution? Hmm?

Fine...if the chemicals are so benign, why won't the companies disclose what they are. If the companies are keeping these compounds secret they must have a reason...

Mr. Horseman,

You keep saying that the aquifers are at between 300-800 feet and the fracking is done at upwards of 10 times that deep. This is true, but is it not also true that to get to those deepest spots you must go through the first 300 then the next 800 feet to get there? Are you insinuating that the possibility of a certain amount of leakage is out of the question?

Also, since the people who are doing the fracking purchase the chemicals used in fracking, they already know what they are and are being asked only to let us all in on the secret. How would that effect the cost of gasoline at the pump?

And DB, How would making the info they already have public cost anyone their job?

Steve

Whatever it is enables you to light your water on fire when it comes out of the spigot so it can't be good for you.

Talk about something you actually understand. Most people who have methane in their water have it because of abandoned coal mines not from oil and gas wells.

The republicans wanting dirty water and dirty air is a myth that the democratic party will continue to use as long as there are people gullible enough to believe whatever they say without checking.

"I live in oil central West Texas, iin the country on a water well. Water is fine!!"

And it will be, until it's not.

A report listing most, if not all toxic chemicals and carcinogens chemicals used in fracturing can be found at: (Page 8 and 9) democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Hydraulic%20Fracturing%20Report%204.18.11.pdf

vwterry

Rarely is the casing in the wells compromised. Where problems occur is when the driller fails to recover fracking fluids properly or simply releases the fracking fluids at the surface like some did a few years ago in PA. The company(s) that did were held responsible for it.

You should visit one of these operations. I haven't but, have talked to people who have gone to them. There are many safeguards in case something goes wrong so spills shouldn't happen.

Today, we have health warnings against eating wild-caught freshwater fish, and there is no saltwater fish that does not have traces of mercury in it. Blood has been drawn from remote tribes all over the world, and traces of mercury have been found in their blood. Mercury when released into the environment is pernicious and bioaccumulates up the food chain. It is very difficult to remove from the environment once released into the environment. Fish, which is a primary source of protien for much of the world's people, is now globally contaminated. That is a very sad commentary on our short sightedness. Corporations have been vehemently denying any link to their pesticides to the bee population collapse for years now. Bees are critical for polllination of fruit bearing plants. Farmers increasingly have to move hives around to get domestically kept bees to pollinate their plants. It was just recently released by scientists that new pesticides are the cause of bee decline.

DDT was a wonder-pesticide, it reduced malaria. But at the same time, it was devastating birds, driving many species to the edge of extinction, and also entering into the food chain and into water. The "cure" was worse than the "disease". When governments were hot on the heels of what DDT was unleashing on the environment, corporations back then vehemently denied any connection.

There is more "stuff" floating around in our environment now, than at any time in human history. It IS causing a dramatic increase in all kinds of cancers. It IS in our food, in our air, and in our water. And fracking is yet another way for the corporations who care more about short-term gain ($$$) to play the three no-evil monkeys with us yet again.

Quite frankly - the pollutants already entering our environment from a thousand different channels - are burden enough, that perhaps chemicals from fracking will just help those of us who fall victim to these pollutants, step off this mortal coil a bit more quickly.

I have long long ago lost any idealism about a green-friendly industrialized human culture. We are already living in a dystopian world. But like the boiling frog, it has happened to us eventually, and most of us have no memory of a community where cancer was rare, and autism even rarer.

I Live in Montana, about 2 hours from the heart of oil country and 2 hours from these areas of Wyoming. I think what most of you don't realize is many issues coming up with the drinking water are not so much from the fracking chemicals. The water gets contaminated from the chemicals and acids that the government and EPA require companies to use when cleaning up after the fracking and for cleaning the rigs. You people really shouldn't beleive everything the government and EPA spew at you. Democrat or Republican- it's humorous how any of you think either of them actually care. They're politicians and that's just what this is- POLITICS! If democrats said the sky was blue, conservatives would say it was pink- if conservatives say fracking isn't doing any harm OF COURSE the democrats will say it is. We are all just pawns in the bigger picture. The sooner we all start to realize that, the sooner, we the people, can begin to have logical conversations and maybe - just maybe- begin basing our arguments and decision making on topics such as these off of FACT, rather than which side of the political spectrum you are on.

I'm 22 years old- and look toward the future that you older generations and politicians are leaving for my generation with extreme agony. It's disgusting.

DB,

There are always safeguards in place for all of these risky operations. That is no assurance that the safeguards will work or the people responsible will always do what is right. It's called operator error for a reason. (Think BP) Even you used the word "rarely". It only takes once for things to go horribly bad.

And your comment fails to address the issue of the article. Why not have the drillers/frackers openly declare what they are using? There is nothing saying they can't continue their work, just that they must let the people around them know what is being done and by who. As so many on the right insist, if you've nothing to hide it's not a problem.

Republicon/conservatives have always fought ANY cost on business to protect the environment and they always will.

If it weren't for the damn treehuggers and democrats, this entire place would look like the moon and there wouldn't be a single animal living !!!!

Conservative Republican here ... and providing a list of chemicals you are using seems very reasonable to me.

What exactly are those chemicals?

I don't know, but you can find video on youtube of people who live near fracking wells who can now ignite the water coming out of their kitchen spigot. Not something I'd care to be drinking, whatever it is.

Here is a description of the ACTUAL hydraulic fracturing process which is HEAVILY dependent on the type of rock to be fractured and the depth of the horizontal portion of the bore hole. Therefore what works in Texas' shale formation may not work in Pa, Wy or Oh.

"As pressure builds up in this portion of the well, water opens fractures, and the driving pressure extends the fractures deep into the rock unit. When pumping stops these fractures quickly snap closed and the water used to open them is pushed back into the borehole, back up the well and is collected at the surface."
THIS is how the water table can be affected. Shattering rock hundreds of feet below the surface provides no REAL sense of control. How do you know that by shattering that rock formation you have not opened cracks that lead to the water table thereby allowing natgas or methane (and fracking chemicals) into the water table?

TEXAS201... I call BS on your "Oh and one more thing you should all consider in this weak economy the lowest unemployment rates are in right to work states with energy production." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38838429/ns/business-us_business/t/states-ridiculously-low-unemployment/#.T6QazDdn3GA
Just because Rush, Hannity, Orielly, Coulter etc. says something you, as a rational human being, should corroborate the information and not take these fascists at their word. I do the same with ALL news I hear and it helps me come to better and more thought out conclusions.

someonespecial

Why dont YOU do some actual research. How is it that chemicals get into the well water when the average fracked well is thousands, yes thats thousands of feet deeper than the water tables you Libtards claim it effects. Hmm? Btw I work in the industry so yeah I do know.

Benzene is an additive in Gasoline to increase the Octane. Why would they put it in a fracking solution? Hmm?

If you work in the industry than you would know benzene is an organic hydrocarbon that naturally occurs in other petro and methane based compounds. It is naturally occurring and carcinogenic.

Blabber and yammer on all you want but fractures in bed rock can make their way thousands of feet to the surface and contaminate wells. The DEP in PA has started fining and holding the well drilling responsible for this crap.

By the way - being a grunt on at a drilling site doesnt make you exhaustively knowledgeable of geo-physics and chemistry. Dolt.

Gambilltaker

you are not that special, just another liar in the industry to save your own job!! We can't survive without water. But we could survive without the natural gas. GREEN IS THE WAY TO GO!!

Please explain what you consider Green?

No we would not survive without Natural gas, oil or coal. Well I should say we cannot survive with a population of over 6 billion people.

I do agree that we should make sure our water is safe. One of the things that is mentioned is the above ground waste, and chemical storage. If anything is going to get into the ground water, it would be these chemicals and waste products first.

As mentioned by another blogger, wind power uses oil for transmission fluid and other parts. Solar uses many chemicals, some of the same chemicals mentioned for fracking in the manufacturing process. They are getting better at recycling, but they are still using the chemicals.

What do you use in your own household? do you fertilize your yard? do you spray for bugs?

The truth is we are surrounded by chemicals every day. We also use oil not only in our tractors, but in our fields.

So lets make a list.

some bloggers are against Oil

natural gas

coal

or any other hydrocarbon product.

what does that leave us with. Since the equipment used to build wind farms run on gas. solar panels use chemicals, and will need to be shipped. The wind turbines need to be shipped as well. The metal to build both comes from mines, which also need chemicals and oil.

We could I suppose go back to the horse and buggy. Use sailing ships to harvest whales. I have heard that you can get a couple of thousand gallons of oil from each one.

The fact is everything has trade offs. If you want to make everything a witch hunt, well go right ahead.

Please tell me what our other choices are?

Ill post this again.

As a gasoline (petrol) additive, benzene increases the octane rating and reduces knocking. As a consequence, gasoline often contained several percent benzene before the 1950s, when tetraethyl lead replaced it as the most widely-used antiknock additive. With the global phaseout of leaded gasoline, benzene has made a comeback as a gasoline additive in some nations. In the United States, concern over its negative health effects and the possibility of benzene's entering the groundwater have led to stringent regulation of gasoline's benzene content, with limits typically around 1%.^[39] European petrol specifications now contain the same 1% limit on benzene content. The United States Environmental Protection Agency‎ introduced new regulations in 2011 that lowered the benzene content in gasoline to 0.62%.^[40]

Secondly I have never worked on a rig. I work at a Gas Plant. We strip CO2 out of the Methane gas to raise the BTU content. Even if i did work on a rig that in of itself makes me an Expert in the field compared your Arm Chair Activisim.

Gee Mike, did you have to add the "dolt" insult at the end of your comment simply because that's what lefties do, or are you a little insecure with your freshman 101 level science facts?

By the way, I agree with much of somespecial's comments, and I'm a retired Geologist (with an MS, not a grunt).

Subnormal - you make some good points. The fact is we still need fossil fuels like it our not. But we also need clean water even more. Make the companies disclose it then they can say see not a problem or we will see something bad and say alright try again. The whole thing needs to be looked at from top to bottom, including the holding ponds like you said. I'm fine with fracking as long as we know it is safe and aren't further daming future generations with great environmental issues that we can prevent now.

We as the human race need to be more responible and do a better job taking care of our home; Earth. We can still use fossil fuels but if there are other alternatives we need to be giving just as much focus to them so we can move away from what is bad or at least further limit it.

There are trades offs and we need to find the balance in them and stick too it. Won't work for everything but we can do better. We may have to cut a tree or two more down but it may also mean others won't be lining the pockets and ignoring the mess they are making either. We have the ability and can do just this if we choose.

And for the die hard repub and dem kool aid drinkers - it all comes from the same place. The packaging just has a different name. So give it a rest and try working together for a change. You'd be surprise what will happen.

It is time

spider-737231

Gee Mike, did you have to add the "dolt" insult at the end of your comment simply because that's what lefties do, or are you a little insecure with your freshman 101 level science facts?

Ive completed upper level and graduate physics and math courses thank you very much and hold an EE. I like how to scold me for insulting someone than say something about freshman 101 science facts? LOL You people would be hilarious if you werent so scarey.

someonespecial

Secondly I have never worked on a rig. I work at a Gas Plant. We strip CO2 out of the Methane gas to raise the BTU content. Even if i did work on a rig that in of itself makes me an Expert in the field compared your Arm Chair Activisim.

Being a well head does not make one an expert in that field. All that means is you can punch a hole in the ground genius.

Edit: And for the record - my armchair activism helped run a well driller out of my town of 10,000 people.

Smart timing by the re-election committee. Responses to this other they YES, will draw attention away from the economy. This is an important subject - but the timing is what is key here.

Mike I dont work at a wellhead. Dolt. I run a multi million dollar gas plant. Also if you have such an extensive education did you ever consider spell check? Just wondering.

Milwaukee262

You are totally correct, I am sorry about the mess, I have done what I can, but you can see what we have been fighting against.

Both sides tell you about 1/3 of the story, what is hard is they are telling you different parts of the 1/3 and mixing them up. So when you add the 1/3 with the other 1/3, you are lucky to get 1/2 out of it.

We also get really informative posts like this one.

Fascists HATE...

Unions

Regulation

Environmental protection and regs

Disclosure

I am not sure what he or she is even trying to say.

oh well it is friday...

Well now I'm confused! The government, the activists, the EPA et al have been holding up things and claiming pollutions by chemicals used in fracking for several months if not years. So, does this demand for what the chemicals mean they had no idea what they were talking about? Just saying. If you need to know what the chemicals are then how could you have already declared them guilty of polluting? Could be this is just another Obama stunt for campaign appeal to those concerned about the environment. He is constantly coming up with ways to buy more votes by promising, fooling or offering. Geeeez.

Someone Special, here is how the pollutants can get into the groundwater: Yes, fracking takes place way down below the aquifers (pockets that hold ground water). Aquifers collect water from LARGE areas where rain and other water seep into the ground, and, because of rock formations, the water runs into the aquifers. When fracking, they drill through these layers of rocks and insert very long sections of pipe through which the fracking water and chemicals run to the place where the natural gas has accumulated.

NOW there is a hole in the ground from the surface, extending through many, many layers of rock, soil, gravel, and whatever else. NOW the fracking fluid, a mixture of mostly fresh water and these very toxic chemicals are forced through this pipe under tremendous pressure, enough pressure to break (fracture) the rocks surrounding the natural gas deposit. If any of this fluid leaks our of the pipe, or is forced up through the hole around the pipe......... it has nowhere to go except back up and into those layers of gravel, loose rock or whatever the pipe came through. Some of those layers are where the ground water is. Fracking chemicals have also been found in streams and rivers near the fracking sites. Thus, toxic material in the drinking water.

Although the companies do everything in their power to conceal this, it has happened and has been reported. So far, the people or towns whose drinking water has been affected have other sources of water, but this won't be possible forever.

There are, no doubt, responsible companies who do all in their power to avoid contamination, but at the rate fracking is increasing, not all companies are experienced. And accidents will happen, even to the best of them. Remember how safe drilling the Gulf was supposed to be? The point is that the stakes are too high to allow this to continue without very tight safety measures...... and these might not prove to be adequate.

And the companies....... well, no one will be able to pin the problem on any one of them because there are too many in too many places, and no one can know where the pollutants will go, geology is just that not certain once you get down a ways.

Hey TXHorseman: You claim to know a lot about fracking being just fine underneath the water table, but did you know that if Texas was its own country, that it would be the 8th most polluted country in the world? Just because it is Texas does not mean its okay... I do not know about you, but I want clean air to breathe and clean water to drink...

Well now, folks, you have to view the big picture.

Which is: As republicans have made clear on more than five million occasions, requiring business to be honest/tell the truth about anything is certain to destroy the economy and make us all slaves of the communist government.

Can someone explain to me why providing a list of chemicals used is a big deal? I am sincerely asking as, while I understand what fracking is, do not have a strong opinion as to its saftey as the last science class I took was a long time ago and the only things I have read are very biased and I there are few sources of info to trust.

However-presuming it is all safe, why is giving a list of chemicals used an issue. I understand that different chemicals are used in different places-but there must be a list of what is used where, I would think...

Their hesitancy to meet this seemingly reasonable request causes me to question their intentions as a whole.

someonespecial: I would fire you if I was your boss. You claim to be such a good man running a multi-million dollar gas plant, but you can take time to post hatred on discussion boards. Do you really work? You have been hawking this board like crazy. Are you one of those disguised hypocritical tea-bagger that claims to be working, who wants smaller government, but has no problem taking in government assistance, that I pay into, so you can sit at your computer and preach your ridiculous, hateful opinions? You mention education, but calling people a "dolt" just proves how uneducated you are at trying to make valid points with hateful speech.

I worked in the environmental regulatory field for many years. Heres the cold hard facts, people - environmental regulations are a kind of compromise. The regulations we have in place are not strong enough to really STOP environmental degradation... including sprawl, loss of top soil, loss of species diversity, reduction of wildlife populations, etc. Regulations slow the degradation down, but rarely work to stop it. Also, if any regulatory body - including the EPA - pushes too strongly to protect a resource, and the case goes to court, the court almost always sides with the developer/corp. Its known in my field. Also, there is NO area that cannot be sullied if a moneyed interest pushes long enough and hard enough. When the needs of profits and especially of a community's "tax base" are set against the needs to protect natural resources, dollars always win over leaves. ALWAYS. Watch how fast an environmentally conscious suburbanite changes their tune for the smallest of things. Such as bombarding an entire community with aerosol pesticides because their last cookout was a little buggy, or they heard about one death a state over due to a mosquito borne illness.

The vast majority of people are green - as long as it doesnt inconvenience them. And that is where the problem lies.

Environmental regulators are masoschistic. Seriously. I long ago "flamed out" - its very depressing when you learn a little too much about how it all really works. I am ceaselessly amazed at the ability of the people who went to school because they grew up loving the earth, turn around and pretty much put their integrity on the shelf next to their childhood field guides -for a paycheck. Those people are called environmental consultants, and thats where the majority of the environmental science students end up. They come up with no end of subtle arguments for why defending corporations for the buck is environmentally positive, and how they are doing such a great job defending the environment. When all they REALLY are, are tools. In more ways than one. Their job is to advocate for the developer. Thats it. No matter how you consultants try to tortuously justify it in your own minds, at the end of the day, you are all little Eichmanns.

Reality, I called him a Dolt because he insulted me previously and called me a DOLT. I do work actually more than I should. I work 7 days on 7 days off. Normally I pick a few days extra on days off. im right at 200 hours extra OT for the year. Why? Because I can and I want the money. Btw not that its any of your business but I also made 6 figures last year partially due to how much I work. Also have 3 kids. 2 of which are in college. My oldest son works 2 jobs and is a full time student, to be a chemical engineer. My youngest is 16 and is in college. Graduated early incase that baffles you. So come on insult me a bit more. Doesnt prove anything you say or disprove anything I say but if it makes you feel better by all means.

Does anyone see what is actually being done with this announcement?

There is no rule eliminating Fracking. Just a request to list chemicals. This is a big step backwards by the Department. A choice to not openly fight the industry during the election period.

This announcement hides the fact that there is no limiting to fracking.

With regard to the clean water issue, those that would do away with fossil fuels are not being logical. They drink their water and other drinks out of plastic bottles. What do they think is in plastic bottles?

HINT: Petrochemicals

Additionally, fracking has been happening for many years. Why the uproar now? Because it's an election year?

So far, this administration has nixed the Transcontinental Pipeline deal, which would have created thousands of jobs. Now, they want to control fracking (please see the president's executive order regarding same), which will slow exploration/production down, which in turn will cause companies to slow down on hiring and/or lay off.

tron...I think we've had this discussion before but remind me again how nuclear is clean when we can't get rid of the waste that is still hazardous for decades? Isn't that "safe" waste what was overheating in Japan? Yeah, I know the reactors overheated too, but I think I remember reading that they couldn't keep cool water on the spent rods and there was a danger of those rods also overheating? Please, explain again how it would be safe here but was catastrophic in Japan?

@someonespecial

Would you mind if fracking occurred near your home? Would you have no concerns, because you consider it to be 100% safe?

I wonder how much more outrage this would bring if fracking were to happen (in theory) around homes in Martha's Vineyard, Beverly Hills, and other upper class neighborhoods. It only seems to happen in poorer rural areas, from what I've seen, anyway.

On a side note about Nuclear and please if you actually know why say it here. But could we feesibly send the spent fuel rods into the sun? Its a nuclear reactor basically wouldnt that get rid of them in a safe way? Just a thought is all.

Dr. Cat, I live in the coal bed methane fields of wyoming. They have been fracking here for almost 10 years. The water quality here has actually gotten better. When I moved here you could light the water on fire due to the Methane pockets from the Coal beds here. That was years before any fracking. Lighting water on fire doesnt happen anymore here.

someonespecial: You can talk about your successes and your family, but you are using it as a point to justify that you are better than everyone. While you are trying to top me with your success, I want you to know that I am a 27 year old fella, who is getting his Ph.D. in analytical chemistry in August. I am already writing my thesis and have two job offers that start me at 6 figures. I come from a family that makes a combined income of $60K a year, had to take out students loans, and had to make it this far on my own, with the help of loans such the Stafford loans. In your egotistical ideology, that would put me on a pedestal higher than you, because I am going to make six figures and did it all on my own, without the help of my parents. Frankly, it is not important. The point is, you can spew your hate and your rhetoric to make yourself feel good and important behind a computer screen, but the fact is, there is always someone out there who can decipher your B.S., and make a point without being a scumbag in the process. ;)

@somethingspecial

Okay, well, I'm just glad I live in a nice area that will never have to worry about it. (And where the water has never caught on fire, either.) Fortunate for me, but not so fortunate for others, especially those who have concerns about safety but no power to really do anything about it.

In any event, if there are no problems, then releasing what chemicals are used and any other potential safety issues that could occur shouldn't be that big of a deal for the companies involved. No need for debate, or to have anything to hide, if it's safe. If.

Reality,

You insulted me and asked if I even worked or if I was on welfare. Lol your an interesting ball of wax to say the least. I answered you back and explained that yeah I do and am doing quite well. Thats all.

Btw since this is apparently a your penis is bigger than mine arguement I came from single parent family. My mom was on welfare raising my brother and I and I doubt she ever made over 20k.

someonespecial, you're lying through your teeth if you say fracking has made your water quality better.

I did not say specifically fracking made it better. I meant to say that the water quality around here has gotten better since I moved here. Im not a geologist by any means. All I know is since we started pulling Methane out of the ground around here the methane in the water decreased. I also meant to point out it wasnt getting worse from fracking.

I don't know if fracking is bad or not but what I do know is if Obama is re-elected he will put such regulations on Oil, Natural Gas, Coal, Nuclear energy that the industry will be forced to shut down. Then "Papa" Obama will have complete control of our lives. Then all of us, not just his supporters will be forced to march lock step behind him.

Attack the frackers, quick every one gather up your pitch forks and torches and form a lynch mob. The are taking energy from fossil fuels and every one knows that is bad, even though natural gas is one of the cleanest energy sources on the planet.

Tron... as if nuclear didn't come with it's own set of issues

I'm 22 years old- and look toward the future that you older generations and politicians are leaving for my generation with extreme agony. It's disgusting.

You are far too cynical to be 22... lighten up!

someone: Since you mentioned education on a previous post and misspelling, you should have correctly spelled "argument" instead of the misspelled "arguement." You are the one who is competitive about everything. Even your profile pick makes you look like a clown.

Anyway, I collaborate with the geology department on Marcellus shale. It is easy to say that, "The water is not being contaminated because the fracking is deep down, below the water table." Why is it that the water is being contaminated from the fracking? There is evidence that it is related, but you cannot tell a conservative that. How is it people can light their drinking water on fire? Why is it that contaminants such as chromium-6 and uranium are being released from the rocks by fracking and showing up in peoples' drinking water? Science has proven the relationship between water contamination and fracking, but science is the one that can disprove it too, and there has not been much evidence to disprove it. Just because one lives near a region or works in the field does not actually do the science to see the effects of what really happens to the environment. BP used a chemical dispersant to break up the oil in the Gulf and did not thoroughly test it. What is happening now? Fish are being caught with lesions and pools of fish are known to be in bad shape? Did BP know this that this would happen? No. The point is, just because you work in the field does not mean you know the long-term effects of what you are doing...

Reality

I don't know where you get your "facts" (?) about Texas but if it weren't for Texas sending money to Washington you would not have been able to get a student loan. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

On a recent plane trip I was sitting next to a research petroleum engineer and we got into discussing fracking because they are mining fracking sand near me. According to him benzene, or a close relative like heptane, is being used as a surfactant, as well as several other very nasty chemicals.

Not all fracking is taking place at 8,000 to 10,000 feet. It depends on where the shale is - some of it is relatively close to the surface.

Republicans won't stop until the 99% live in slums surrounded by toxic sludge waste pools.

How about reducing consumption and waste instead of polluting our water? It's not as if we don't already consume more than we need. Just the wasted fuel for all the unnecessary wars alone is staggering.

Floyd: I am wrong. In 2008, if Texas was its own country, it would rank 7th or 8th in the world. Here are the links...

http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/198434/top-pollution-ranking-for-texas

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2008/02/27/the-co2-state.html

Corporations want their industries regulated at the state level because state legislators are cheaper to buy.

Plain and simple.

Clean Water

Clean Air

..... not so simple in 2012

By the way, the open pit they show a picture of is NOT facking fluid. The ONLY thing that can be in an open pit, by federal and state regulation is FRESH water. That is why at drilliing sites you see 40 - 50 frac tanks. They are the big quare ones with wheels.

Yes, there needs to be and are government regulatory agencies that watch ALL businesses, including oil companies. Missouri River is polluted, Mississippi polluted, Great Lakes, etc., etc. All from greed.

What is in fracking fluid? I am sure they will tell you and you won't know anymore than you did. You get more pollution from run off in the cities monthly than you will from fracking.

What is most amusing is that everyone on here will today or tomorrow drive or be driven in a vehicle propelled from fossil fuels.

No Chuck, it's not.

The Fracking Song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=timfvNgr_Q4&feature=player_embedded

Floyd,

He is talking about air pollution. They forget to mention that we are saddled with the largest numeber of coal burning power plants.

www.grinningplanet.com/2005/07-26/water-pollution-facts-article.htm

This covers water pollution.

Mr. Horseman,

"What is most amusing is that everyone on here will today or tomorrow drive or be driven in a vehicle propelled from fossil fuels."

So does that mean we should all just forget it and let things go unchecked, unregulated and unabated? Forget the abysmal safety record the producers generated while "self-regulating"? Forget the children the right likes to trot out whenever it suits them?

Why not disclose? What are they trying to hide? They already know what it is, there's no research or additional cost in disclosing. Why not? What are you defending?

Here is what I suggest environmentalists do...

• Accept that, for the immediate future, we need sources of energy that are not sustainable and entirely environmentally sound.
• Make a "priority list" as to what those sources should be based on the harm the do/do not cause.
• Back off from protesting those sources

Cars and electronics are not going anywhere soon and wind/solar energy is not going to be the solution for a while. Conservation is not going to get us all the way there either. So, for the immediate future, which source of energy do you want us to use?

Natural gas? Great! Back off Fracking.

Oil? Great! Back off pipelines and drilling.

Coal? Great! Back off mining (not the saftey of the miners.)

Accept that no solution at this time is going to be without environmental damage, so stop protesting every damage that is created and prioritize.

vwTerry,

1.86 go back and READ the second sentence. I do believe that I agree with you. I am simply saying to put down the flares and pitch forks until you know what you are talking about!!

This well in rural Bradford County, Pa., is flaring natural gas that could not be captured by the well flow.

This is written below their first picture and it is WRONG!!!! They are flaring gas because there is no infrastructure no pipeline to put it in. I don't even know what "not able to be captured by the well flow" even means. It is this kind of stupidity and lack of responsibility that causes these witch hunts!!!

I have seen the pollution people are speaking of but the states and feds starting cracking down on that 30 years ago. All companies have HES departments. Health, Environmental and Safety. There are places in New Mexico that they can only drill a portion of a day during a given month as it it the mating season of the prairie chicken. They are watching. Companies have different formulas for fracking fluids and thus don't want to publicly reveal (to competitors) what those are.

Uggg!! this makes me sick!!

Will the "V"'s come down already and give us some "Blue Energy"??

Will Keanu Reeves get that hydrogen thingy working in Chain Reaction??

Who care if it upsets corporations wallets. They keep raping ours!! Maybe then the tree-hugers will shut up as well...

I'm Just Sayin'.....

with Republicans controlling Congress there will be no accountability ... there will be no hearings ..there will be no regulations ... if your well becomes undrinkable ..thats the price you pay for a government that allows the energy giants to write the legislation that effect you as a citizen... its nothing personal just business doing business with no government controls

Reality, Also anyone else who isnt aware. My profile pic is of Johnny Cash flipping the bird to the Music industry that was trying to black list him because he was critical of them.

someonespecial Guys who are a lot specialier than you - and a lot richer than you - have said the same thing as you are saying about many different technologies. The Big People at BP, for example, were constantly giving themselves awards for safe operations. And they were sooooo right. The explosion killed only 11 people. Only 11 of them. And what's that against cost cutting that was saving tens of millions of dollars. Oh, and by the way, those 11 were only little people. And, afterwards, one of the BP big people told us they cared about the little people. They care.

Watch the dvd Gas Land. Make sure you have a waste basket at arms length, you will want to throw up several times.

Horseman,

If the companies and their supporters on the right keep fighting full disclosure none of us will know for sure what is being talked about. That does not mean we should not ask.

"Companies have different formulas for fracking fluids and thus don't want to publicly reveal (to competitors) what those are."

The government is not asking for the formulas, just the components. Public land is, by definition, public and as such the public, me and anyone else interested, has the right to know what is being introduced into the public, our, environment.

Someday you Sheeple will understand that Repuclicans arent the root of all evil just because a bunch of Millionaire Democrats demonize them all in the media. What have the Democrats done to help anything? They had both houses of Congress and the President. Also had a majority and STILL didnt change anything or do anything different. They still blamed the powerless Republicans for 2 years. What has the federal government ever done thats worked and not wasted Billions. The democrats arent any better at doing anything.

For god sake when you all read something from anywhere on here dont automatically believe it just because its CNN or MSNBC or Fox or whatever. Read the bills on the goverment sites. Find info on both sides of the Issue. The news media outlets are just as corrupt as you all think the Oil and Gas companies are. Media is probably more corrupt because they know they can sway the mindless in this country very easily. Anadarko Petroleum is a large corporation. Their CEO Jim Hackett has already released info about what Anadarko uses in fracking. LOOK IT UP. Google is an amazing tool if you just use it to look. Dont just go to the sites from one organization. Research and you will see for yourselves.

Of course im just full of hate by saying this. If you dont like being called mindless or Sheeple then dont read one site then spew the talking point of that site and get angry because your wrong. Also just because its Oil, Gas, Nuclear or someone making money does not mean its bad or evil by default.

Anything for the Almighty dollar. Everything is for sale,including 'commodities' which are vital to sustain life. I have some 79/21 mix of nitrogen/oxygen for sale. Order now and I'll throw in a free gallon of drinkable water to the first 1,000 callers. You better hurry though because supplies are limited.

Jimd,

The Deep Water Horizon was owned by Transocean Not BP. They contracted the well to be drilled. BP didnt drill it themselves. Rigs are owned by independent companies that drill wells for larger companies. Normally those contracted companies are responsible for their own safety programs.

FINALLY we are starting to produce significant amounts of our own energy needs again.

Can we please not ruin it with more environmental BS?

Maybe fracking is not ideal, but PLEASE look at the bigger picture. This is one of the best things to happen to our country in the last 50 years.

In response to TXHorseman:

“By the way, the open pit they show a picture of is NOT facking fluid. The ONLY thing that can be in an open pit, by federal and state regulation is FRESH water. That is why at drilliing sites you see 40 - 50 frac tanks. They are the big quare ones with wheels.”

-The Denver Post states, “In Colorado, some fracking wastewater is discharged without treatment, under state permit, directly into rivers.” Another 20% of fracking wastewater in Colorado is put into surface ponds where chemicals can evaporate into the air.

TXHorseman You may not notice it because you live there. But the two times ive been in Texas the water smells like rotten eggs. No BS just like the water in LA has what my cousin calls Floaty's. I thought she was BS'n me until I went there to visit. And yup white stuff in the water that looked like paper particles. Hell in LA you cant even order a Coke that comes unbottled cause it tastes nasty due to the chemicals.

Glad I live in Nor Cal where we get first shot at mountain water from the High country. At least I drink it. Honestly not trying to make fun of Texas but really the water smells bad. Any idea on what makes it smell like rotten eggs? Petro chemicals? Once in Houston and the other visit was to Dallas.

Gotnorice - sorry but the bigger picture also includes making sure what they are doing is safe and what could happen to the country and environment 50 years from now.

Environmental BS? Really? Come on. Last I checked we all need clean air to breath, clean water to drink, and land that isn't polluted to grow and raise food. Again big picture???

Fossil fuels aren't going away anytime soon but we can do a better job managing them responsibly. Just like we can also put more focus into renewables and start weening ourselves off of fossil fuels. The resource is limited so why not start now instead of waiting til the last minute when it's almost all gone.

This isn't a one size fits all problem and neither is the answer. But we do have options that can lead us in a better direction and will truly take into account the big picture.

We need to come up with better inexpensive ways to clean water. That is on the surface as well. Desalination plants that are effective and cheaply run. Could change the world. If we don't and we contaminate the little water we do have. It not only effects drinking water it effects our food sources.

Fracking gets us the natural gas we need right now. But we still need a plan B and C And D. Just my opinion. I think one of these Corporations already has the technology to clean water on a massive scale. But they wont do it until water is worth more than anything else. As a commodity.

And buying bottled water is a waste of money. Its just as dirty as tap where I am at.

FEDERAL LANDS...if the Feds want to know what's going on on Federal Lands, I don't have a problem with that. I would want to know what's going on on MY land. But the Feds don't have a right to control what's going on within individual states where FEDERAL LAND isn't being used. Those regulations should be left to the States, etc.

Txhorseman, I live in your area of the country, seNM. ur posts reek of brainwashing or being the brainwasher in the area.

Let's all face facts, republicans don't give a rats rear end about any of us. They have been bought and sold so many times by their koch, big oil, coal, norquist puppet masters they don't know whose boots to lick at any one time. They have all signed a pledge not to the american people to do what's best for ALL of us but to the biggest lobbyist in D.C. Grover Norquist to do the bidding for the greedy one percent/corporations from around the world. And to seal the deal the terrorist conservative majority in the supreme court gave them carte blanche with that treasonous "Citizens United" piece of crap. I bet those conservative judges/criminals in the supreme court were paid handsomely for their work. And you people really think these creepy b*stards are going to disclose the chemicals they are poisoning us with?? Come on they don't even answer to us. And just think all of this toxic fracking is allowed to go on without the fracking corporations paying one cent in taxes on it. Once they extract all the gas and have poisoned all the ground water they'll just disappear into the sunset after making astronomical profits. Then these fracking sites will become super fund sites and the taxpayers(you and me) will be on the hook to pay for cleaning it all up. Mark my words and take heed............

"Rarely is the casing in the wells compromised. Where problems occur is when the driller fails to recover fracking fluids properly or simply releases the fracking fluids at the surface like some did a few years ago in PA. The company(s) that did were held responsible for it." --DBAkron

From "Affirming Gasland":

“I asked Dr. Anthony Ingraffea, the D. C. Baum Professor of Engineering at Cornell University, whose research for more than 30 years has involved structural mechanics, finite element methods, and fracture mechanics: ‘Can drilling and/or hydraulic fracturing liberate biogenic natural gas into a fresh water aquifer?’

His reply: ‘Yes, definitely. The drilling process itself can induce migration of biogenic gas by disturbance of previously blocked migration paths through joint sets or faults, or by puncturing pressurized biogenic gas pockets and allowing migration through an as-yet un-cemented annulus, or though a faulty cement job. The hydraulic fracturing process is less likely to cause migration of biogenic gas; however, the cumulative effect of many, closely spaced, relatively shallow laterals, each fracked (and possibly re-fracked) numerous times, could very well create rock mass disturbances that could, as noted above, open previously blocked migration paths through joint sets or faults.’”

*sigh* Just leave it to the human species, (you know, supposedly the smartest being on the planet?) to destroy it. Let's just frack frack frack away! And ask questions later...

No Richard your just stupid and believe all the crap that people say. Just like the notes below the pictures in these articles that are not even close to correct. No surprise to me that your are from NM given your comment. Talk about an F'ed up state!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You probably believe the BS above about the water in Dallas and Houston smelling like rotten eggs. Whatever!!!!!

Joey,

Really nice try..No really, but it is BS!!! Dallas and Houston get there water from lakes..........!! It is treated...!! SO if it smells it is from the CRAP the government forces us to put in water...! Not oilfield.

It is people like you telling these stupid ass tales that gets things started. BTW been to california.....water was horrible.......!! I live in oilk central.....my water from a well. smells like water!!!

I think that is what federal govt. is demanding.

No their not "Demanding" anything. They are "urging" the companies to tell us.

More bull$hi+ political posturing that does nothing for the people but everything for the politician who is grappling for fame and popularity.

Let's talk about doing something, and maybe in five years we can apply some of that talk to a compromise that once again accomplishes nothing for the people but everything for my re-election. It smells like a class action lawsuit where only the lawyers get rich.

Meanwhile the pollution continues.

While they're at it, why don't they ask the Dept. of Energy and the U.S. military to come clean on what they're dumping into the ground, water and air. Probably makes whatever the private companies are doing look like small potatoes.

EPA : "We'd like a list of chemicals you are using in you fracking operations."

Filthy Oil & Gas Co. : "None of your fracking business!"

Post a link. I have read what Romney has said, and nowhere does he say get rid of regulation. Domestic energy is our ONLY lifeline, take it away and the country is done, bankrupt, toast. Fact is the more regulation, the higher gas prices will go, and the poor will suffer that much more. The earth made it through thousands of years without an EPA, and the earth survived and so did people.

KevinT...here is a link where Romney pretty clearly states that he wants no federal new rules related to fracking.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/politics-national/romney-blasts-obama-on-his-regulation-of-fracking-630115/

Here is the quote: "For years, this technology using fluids -- fracking technology -- to bring gas and oil out of the ground has been employed and innovated and has been regulated by the states,"..."But now this president has eight different agencies trying to fight their way to become regulators of the gas extraction technology known as fracking. And the intent, of course, is to slow down the development of our own resources."

Gee...Obama's intent is to slow down energy production...not look out for the safety of the people who drink water from nearby wells?

Clearly, Romney wants regulations to remain at the state level, which are easier to bully by large corporations.

Kevin, it's true that the earth has gone thousands of years without a EPA. However, never has the earth supported so many people as now, nor as energy been as aggressively gotten as it has in the last 50 years or so.

As for what Romney says or doesn't say...LOL would take a whole bunch more post. But I get the idea he thinks that EPA would be something to be gotten rid of entirely, sorta like you and most "big oil" supporters do.

DO NOT confuse Kevin with the facts of the situation. He relies on sound bites and misinformation in order to get up every day.

I love how he drops in the red herring of how the earth has survived up until now without regulation. Wow, what a brilliant concept. Did it occur to him that the earth never dug up oil and fracked the crap out of itself until now?

If those silly campaign e-letters told him a chair was a hat, he'd be wearing one the very next day. Sad, but true.

DizzyKat

Here is the quote: "For years, this technology using fluids -- fracking technology -- to bring gas and oil out of the ground has been employed and innovated and has been regulated by the states,"..."But now this president has eight different agencies trying to fight their way to become regulators of the gas extraction technology known as fracking. And the intent, of course, is to slow down the development of our own resources."

Gee...Obama's intent is to slow down energy production...not look out for the safety of the people who drink water from nearby wells?

Clearly, Romney wants regulations to remain at the state level, which are easier to bully by large corporations.

So you are saying that the Federal government should look into this?

Do you agree or disagree about the 8 government agencies?

I will have to look it up, but I know that I have read that for other businesses the federal agencies are demanding polar opposite things. Meaning that one agency is telling a company to do this to be in compliance, and the next day a different agent from a different agency is telling him to do the opposite. So who is going to be better at managing at the local level? A state agency, or a government agency? How are you supposed to run a business, employee people when you do not even know which rules to follow?

I also do not understand how people can complain about businesses not hiring people, when we are constantly talking about new rules, new regulations and new taxes? Just because you have a profit today, does not mean you will tomorrow.

What should we invest in? What type of energy?

To someonespecial.........You work at a gas plant (Hahahahahahaha) and you think you know about fracking? My husband worked for an oil and gas company (he was the exploration manager) for 30 years. I think he knows more than you do. Fracking is dangerous. Why do you think it hasn't been used long before this? But now, companies care more about making an extra buck than people's health and welfare. If it's so safe, let all the frackers come forward with ALL their information. And let the people judge. And if the corporations suffer financially because of it...........tough SH*T.

And to milwaukee262............I wish you young people would quit carping about what we did to you and what you'll have to deal with. Every generation has had the same problem. Grow up and deal with it and stop your whining. Maybe get job. And if you really don't want to be here, you have options. Use them.

Kevin, you're time line is a little off. Your argument would be so much more impressive if you replaced thousands with billions. Of course, the gentleman who worries about you going out wearing a chair on your head is still right to be concerned.

I live in ohio and have relatives who are not far from the well. There was no panic. Right now people from California who know that the earthquake was only 3.5 on the ricther scale have got to be falling off their chairs laughing at you.

DB The laugh is on you to let oil companies rape your state. The chemicals will ooze up and you won't even know what it is or how to treat the sick. Bury your head in the sand, all is clear.........

requiring that drillers on federal lands publicly list what chemicals they use

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for watching out for me, Mr Prez.

I live on the Barnett Shale and nothing would stop Texans or our government from building a huge gas well near my home. Not even the Day Care Center and Elementary School less than 250 yards away. They are greedy aholes and they are trying to drill as much gas as they can while prices are low.

Yup!

I'm sorry but when fracking can literally cause the earth too quake they probably shouldn't be doing it.

Really, we deserve a list. Gas producers are only interested in money (which is fine, that's their business), not the health of people or the rest of the environment. They simply have no right to inject harmful chemicals into the environment in order to make a profit. It is their responsibility to demonstrate that what they are doing is safe. Voluntary dosen't work when there's $billions at stake. There's always some greedy bastard willing to sacrifice other peooples' health for a buck.

if the findings is harmful, i wouldn't care if the send it to moon.i will pay a little more to breath good air.

If they continue to be able not to disclose the chemicals pumped into the ground, what is going to stop them from making big money by pumping someones toxic waste down there? Or their own toxic byproducts!

Agree, if there's nothing to worry about, why are they hiding it?

Really?-1739510

Maybe pumping toxic waste down there is a good idea! 1300 feet down is a LONG way.....and gravity being what it is, it won't be coming back up.

Now you're just being absurd and proving you are either a paid industry shill ir complete ignorant of geological physics...which is it?

Really?-1739510

Here is what is going to happen.....

1. They will get their list

2. They will review it and then demand environmental impact statements on each chemical, of course all fracking will have to stop until the studies are complete

3. The environmental impact studies will then be used by environmental groups to fight the gas companies in court

4. The gas companies, faced with unlimited lawsuits and regulations, will decide that it is not worth operating in the US, so they move to Canada, where the Canadians reap the energy

5. Environmentalists pat themselves on the back for a "job well done" while the economy takes another hit and our most abundant energy source becomes less so

Really..if I boil your list down, basically what you are saying is that they shouldn't have to identify the chemicals because, if they do, the public will be outraged that they are pumping hazardous chemicals into the ground and force them to stop?

Apparently, conservatives feel that having to admit they're poising a town is more morally objectionable than the actual act of poisoning the town.

Procor -

Fracking has never caused an earthquake in 100 years. The earthquake in colorado and ohio was from the waste disposal wells - too close to a fault and pumped with too much volume and to high a pressure.

Really?-1739510 -

So instead... The natural companies..

1. Do not provide the list of chemicals.

2. 10 year down the road people start getting sick from the ground water.

3. 15 years later, someone dies from cancer, loses some of their limbs, passes on bad genetics that cause birth defects.. someone may have died too...

4. 20 years later, the natural gas company (and those making decisions for today) say "we had no idea that these chemicals were bad...."

5. 25 Years, the natural gas company is sued in court and has to pay out punitive damages.

So.. What should we do... know what chemicals we are going to use in our environment or expect the worst case scenario.

This is a situation (article) where let's do what makes sense and compromise so that everyone wins.

Really?

No, what I am saying is that regardless of whether the fracking fluid is harmful or not, anything can be tied up in court forever.

That is the true goal of the environmentalists.

That's an idiotic statement typical of the Rush Limbaugh crowd. It's as idiotic as saying the true goal of gas drillers is to poison children. Just because someone has a different opinion than you does not mean they have sinister goals.

You all should do some more research on fracking, it has been proven that there is no connection between fracking and flammable water. People have been drilling oil and gas wells for almost 100 years and it is not going away until there is an affordable alternative. So unless you want to pay more for gas, kinda like obama has done with Oil, then Shut Up.

Wow...the mentality of the Type A personalities like Really and someonespecial never ceases to amaze me. "I know it all, I've seen it all, I've done it all, just shut up and listen and follow. Never mind all of these counter-intuitive coincidences. My education is better than yours. Just shut, sit back, and let me drive. I have all the answers."

Really?-1739510

So... instead of being more concerned about people's health.. you are more concerned about the potential loss of thousands of jobs, rising energy costs, and the ripple effect on the country.

First, you are speaking the worst case scenario, another "scare tactic employed by the right" to push their obtuse legislation through and trick the American people.

I say.. Disclose the chemicals that are being used here, start the studies, put in place every possible and applicable safety precautions to prevent a 'spill' or something that may be hazardous to the public, and let the natural gass companies proceed. They sign a FULL disclosure agreement that says they are accepting any potential risk to the public and are liable for all damages. They accept federal regulators checking progress and montioring the safe risks and go forward.

Oh wait.. isn't that kind of what President Obama is trying to do here? Oh but that's unreasonable right... to much regulation.

actually, I don't think we have to worry about jobs. There will be plenty of those in the healthcare field treating the symptoms of the work of guys like Really and someonespecial

lahater

How/where has it been proven that "there is no connection between fracking and flammable water"?

Tell you what I will pay you to let me piss in your water. Is that ok? Oh and I am not going to tell you it is piss! Wake up jobs and money are not worth more that HEALTHY living. You keep your money I will keep a clean environment and healthy living. Oh but Redumbicans don't believe in global warming or that somehow god will protect thier health.

The President is trying to save us from the health issues these drillers don't gave a damn about. It's money and not the health of the people affected. Please people get the hell out of that Republican bubble.

There is no evidence whatsoever that fracking pollutes drinking water supplies, any more than there is evidence that Mankind is responsible for global warming, which, by the way, is now called "climate change" because the Earth Firsters haven't been able to connect any dots between people and melting ice caps. If you have a link to fracking polluting water supplies, how about posting it here?? Obama is not protecting our health, he's protecting his Socialist philospoy by destroying the greatness of America, he's the Great Social Leveler, trying to make us the equivalent of Botswana or Portugual

You can piss in my drinking water any time because my water comes from treated and filtered public water supplies, as do most communities in the US. You want to pay $10 for a gallon of gas go ahead, and pls keep god out of this, he helps those who help themselves, not those who always have their hand outstreteched!

Really. No evidence huh. Do you -live- near an area where fracking is taking place because I bet you'd find yourself plenty of evidence then.

Bulgaria, there's some evidence that fracking is harmful, but we really don't know how harmful it may or may not be because drillers are allowed to hide information. This law requires disclosurer. The Tea party's goal is to weaken our government. The model for a country with a weak government and no taxes is Somalia.

The drought is far from over in Texas, in fact, it is spreading further into the rest of the country. Now, there's not enough water for food and livestock but there's always enough water for fracking? Please. This is drinking water, not saltwater. You can live without oil but you sure as hell can't live without water. If fracking is so dandy, why are the chemicals used kept secret? Why are they allowed to destroy drinking water, (and I'm not talking about only ground water here) I'm talking about water that is taken away from drinking sources and poisoned and then buried, never to be used again. Billions and billions of gallons of drinking water, not just a couple of gallons here and there.

@Bulgaria03

I see your misconception of gas price here. Oil/Gas are global commodity, meaning no matter how much you drill, if corporations can sell it else where in the world for higher price, they will.

The number 1 exporter good in 2011 from US is OIL, big surprise for you, right? We can drill everywhere, drill 10 more times than we do know. However, if corporations can sell it elsewhere, the prices will remain high.

Did you know US has one of the cheapest gas price in the world? Try to travel to Europe and tell me about gas price there. I have just been to Germany, England, French last summer and surprise at what I have seen.

Good, better late than never. These chemicals are going to poison our water supply. We can live without oil and gas, but we cannot live without clean water. We don't even have to live without oil and gas from fracking really, there are a few companies out there who don't use chemicals at all in the fracking process. It wouldn't be so hard, once these dangerous chemicals are revealed, to ban them and transition to safer fracking methods.

Bulgaria and Really - Evidence has been presented that these chemicals contaminate water. They can't be filtered out. And the only evidence presented is found by those who aren't in the pockets of the government and the companies. Hmmm... sounds fishy. Wake up, it's all about money.

Link please? And a real one that can be verified? Thank you

what is the outrage about making sure that the disabled can get in a pool?..

any public pool can afford $5K for a lift

Prokhor - you are repeating only what you have been told by people who have an agenda. I have relatives in ohio AND Pennsylvania near fracking sites. In 100 years, fracking has not been a problem. The problems that are being experienced are the results of disposing of fracking fluids.

Coung - because we are selling on the market, the price isn't higher. One other thing that is clearly lost in reporting is the QE2 & QE 2.5 program effects. These programs were the US Treasury printing money and giving money to banks for debts. That has put more US dollars into circulation without a comparable increase in actual wealth. What that means is that our money is worth less. Since Oil is traded internationally based on the dollar, the price of Oil has climbed because our money is worth less.

From one economics expert QE1 was fine, QE2 & 2.5 were not. They are causing what is known as "inflation" - the price you pay increasing.

Really?-1739510 -

OH NO.. more doom and gloom from the right. "they sky is falling... the sky is falling".. gimme a break.

The United States is the second largest producer of energy from windpower:

The use of wind power in the United States has expanded quickly over the last several years. Construction of new wind power generation capacity in 2011 totaled 6810 megawatts (MW) bringing the cumulative installed capacity to 46,919 MW.^[1] This capacity is exceeded only by China.^[2] In 2011 the electricity produced from wind power in the US amounted to 120 terawatt-hours (TW·h) or 2.9% of all electric power

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_the_United_States

Rooftop solar panels can provide at least 25% of total electricity demands in over 40 states, and in Nevada and California 51 and 52%, respectively.^[8]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_the_United_States

So... should we just keep the "DRILL DRILL DRILL DRILL" mentaility? Or should we actually look at really investing in greener technologies and renewable resources while we still use fossil fuels.

As for Obama's over regulation.. Please reply with a detailed accounting of all the regulations.

Really,

Is this better?

http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/wind.htm

http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_wind.shtml

http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/solar-power/

Really?-1739510

Where are your links to discredit my information? I see you are only good at disputing information but not very good at actually providing your own. Typical of the right. I am from Iowa originally. I have watched windmill farms spring up everywhere.

Farmers continue to bring in their crops without any problems. Livestock continues to feed in nearby pastures with no issues, and the energy companies who own those windmills get their energy, and benefit from the jobs that are created. How is this a bad thing?

Let's face facts. The United States has the technology to develop reusable energy resources while still using fossil fuels. Isn't it time that we end our dependency on a carbon based economy and starting using what's around us? Or do we continue to be at the mercy of the cost of a barrel of oil, natural gas, and coal?

Thank you Jo-An for the additional links! You Rock.

Really? And when was the last time there was an earthquake in Texas, or in Missouri??? I'll tell you when: NEVER! Did the USGS happen to mention when??? HMMMMM??

Bulgaria - Your ignorance is appalling. Do you read... anything? You spout out your opinions as though they're facts. Please do some research. Numerous studies have linked it to fracking. The large earthquake that occurred in the VA/MD region last year - yeah, linked to guess what? Fracking!

Bulgaria - Have you never heard of the New Madrid Fault? It's the site of some of the worst quakes in history. It's at a critical level and expected to quake at any time - the effects would range from Northern Missouri, into Arkensas and east through Tennessee and Illinois. When it happens, the results will be catastrophic.

Do you really want to accelerate it with fracking?

Really?-1739510

J.R.

50/50 chance of an earthquake at any time, with or without fracking.

So blasting chemicals thousands of feet below the surface in bedrock at astounding pressures... has nothing to do with earthquakes? ROFL! Clowns.

JR Fracking is not causing earthquakes. Fracking Fluid and Oil well fluid pumped back into the earth at inadvisable locations and to high a rate is what caused the earthquakes.

Fracking actually is decreasing pressure in the Marcellous layers when the gas is extracted from where it is trapped.

None of the studies link fracking to earthquakes-none-all of your examples are injection wells-NOT the same thing-plus the injection well in CO was long before any wells were fracked there.

MO has a history of earthquakes-it's called the New Madrid fault zone-look it up.

Marie Haughey

The earthquakes you mention were NOT caused by fracking-again-it is injection wells that have been linked to earthquakes-NOT fracking-

I live in texas there are minor earthquakes every once in awhile, nothing you can actually feel though. At first they though they were caused by fracking, but they later learned it is just geology at work, again fracking had nothing to do with it. But by the looks of this blog enviro nut jobs think fracking is the devil. Remmeber when they thought power lines caused cancer?

Taken from USGS.gov:

Q: Does the production of natural gas from shales cause earthquakes? If so, how are the earthquakes related to these operations?

A:

To produce natural gas from shale formations, it is necessary to increase the interconnectedness of the pore space (permeability) of the shale so that the gas can flow through the rock mass and be extracted through production wells. This is usually done by hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"). Fracking causes small earthquakes, but they are almost always too small to be a safety concern. In addition to natural gas, fracking fluids and formation waters are returned to the surface. These wastewaters are frequently disposed of by injection into deep wells. The injection of wastewater into the subsurface can cause earthquakes that are large enough to be felt and may cause damage.

lahater says:

Remmeber when they thought power lines caused cancer?

Umm.. there are plenty of stories where powerlines have and due cause cancer. If you don't think so, perhaps we can build a high power voltage lines in your back yard and see in a few years.

:)

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/magnetic-fields

Is there a link between magnetic field exposure at home and cancer in children?

Numerous epidemiological (population) studies and comprehensive reviews have evaluated magnetic field exposure and risk of cancer in children (1, 2). Since the two most common cancers in children are leukemia and brain tumors, most of the research has focused on these two types. A study in 1979 pointed to a possible association between living near electric power lines and childhood leukemia (3). Among more recent studies, findings have been mixed. Some have found an association; others have not. These studies are discussed in the following paragraphs. Currently, researchers conclude that there is limited evidence that magnetic fields from power lines cause childhood leukemia, and that there is inadequate evidence that these magnetic fields cause other cancers in children (2). Researchers have not found a consistent relationship between magnetic fields from power lines or appliances and childhood brain tumors.

But thats impossible.. Mike says they are related and he knows everything. Just ask him. He's what you call an expert. Go get your diploma Mike and have it framed and bronzed. You certainly will never want to lose or misplace it. No one is ever going to believe by listening and/or reading your words you possess any intelligence at all otherwise. Its the only proof you have boy....

Republicans are giving voters every reason not to vote for Romney, these are some example why, they keep making irrelevant argument.

He also refuses to tax well drillers and has cut state education subsidies substantially while at the same time dumping millions into new prisons.

Hopefully a 1 term governor.

AMEN

TARD!

pete - nice, nothing useful or informative to say, so you resort to insults.

Pete is kind of like that little boy with tourette's walking down the side walk yelling at the other little kids.

I think we need to slow down and understand the ramifications of fracking. All these so called industry experts and what not think that pumping billions of gallons of poisoned water is safe because it is below the water table and that it wont come up. So the next question is what happens if there is a big earthquake? Its just like Japan... first the earth quake then the tsunami and finally the nuclear fallout.

We need to look beyond "thinking that its ok because its 8000 ft deep". If you have an earthquake and the pressure below the plates could essentially kick up all that disgusting junk right back up to the surface.

Also I am tired of hearing that this provides jobs for people because it doesnt provide jobs for everbody. It only provides jobs to a certain energy market segment. Sure you energy sector folks get a job but what about the rest of the people? Your product that you produce then gets shipped out to the highest bidder outside of the US. So I am not too crazy about that because you take the natural resources that belongs to the people and profit for your company and yourself at our expense. I haven't seen any of my utility bills reduced because of this surplus of gas. You think the government really gets that much tax revenue from that? Probably not that much with all sorts of tax incentive the energy sector gets and plus pumping the gas/oil into those facilities which are located in the Free Trade Zone. I dont think the government gets that much tax from the profits that these companies make because they probably use loop holes in the tax codes to pay no taxes. The only taxable income will be from the workhorse people making medium wages income on these jobs because they cant afford accountants to hide thier money.

For me I am against exporting our natural gas... because just like oil it will sky rocket and we the people will get stuck with the higher prices at our own expense!!

Who the frack is voting for you? I think people just vote to vote. Useless!

dude.....dude , dude...doodity dude.

Please take your meds......and try to remember that republicans are the opposite of socialists.

if your family got here in 1609 you should have a better grip on America

Oklahoma mom, just MAKE SURE you and yours SHOW UP when you want to invade Iran! Please go to your nearest Recruiting Center and SIGN UP, or SHUT UP! Fed up with you PUNKS destroying families while you're in the comfort and safety of your homes! PUT your lives on the line or SHUT UP! Better yet, just make sure its YOU on the front lines, leaving your family!

OKIE, If these chemicals are harmless, as you claim, then disclosing them won't shut anything down.

Good for you...someone with some common sense and knowledge! People that want to bash fracking don't have a clue what it is all about...just what you read in the papers...really...they always tell the truth..pull your heads out of your ass...we can support ourselves on CLEAN...NATURAL GAS....not oil from the people who continue to try and blow us up!

drilling companies are not trying to hide anything....I have been in the fracking industry for 25 years...sand, water (which by the way is recycled and reused then cleaned better than most streams) nitrogen - which I do believe you breathe in every day from the air! Like I said...pull you asses out of the newspapers and stupid reported articles and do your research...

Think about it, if the chemicals aren't that bad, why won't the drilling companies reveal them? Why is it that all their research shows fracking is ok, but independent scientists find levels of contamination? It's obvious that it's all about money, but you people are so blind and so ignorant and self-righteous that you'll never see it. You need to do your research.

Ok, fox news one, then these companies should have no problem disclosing what they are using then. After all it's completely safe.

Joe, the article noted that Durbin stated the chemicles being used are posted on fracfocus.org.

If this is the case, what is the purpose of the article or the "urging" by the administration? Is it to rile up the environmental base?

please no facts about fracking....the libs and their puppet "news" teams are creating a boogie man to take your mind off the anemic ecomomy.....oooooooh...loooky there something *******SHINY!!!!!!!!!!*****

foxyone-3285064Good for you...someone with some common sense and knowledge! People that want to bash fracking don't have a clue what it is all about...just what you read in the papers...really...they always tell the truth

Just like the well drillers always tell the truth? ROFL!

"Just like the well drillers always tell the truth?"

And environmentalists always tell the truth? ROFLMAO!

EVERY chemical used in fracking is listed-the only thing that is considered propietary is the exact amounts of each-which no company should have to disclose to the public-do Coca-Cola,and Pepsi disclose the exact amounts of each ingredient in their products?

The MSDS sheet for EVERY chemical used in the fracking process is available to anyone who is not too lazy to look them up-this BS about "secret chemicals" is just that-BS-it's a strawnam argument to buy time for the extreme enviro's until they can maybe,possibly come up with some facts to stop fracking.

Sort of like the whole spotted owl fiasco-the enviro's screamed that logging was killing off the spotted owl-they spiked trees,maiming hard working loggers for life-in the end-logging had exactly NOTHING to do with the decline of the spotted owl-it was simply being forced out of the area by a larger,more aggressive species of owl-nature doing what nature does.

I think it is funny that OSHA, in part, oversees the production, etc. of the chemicals used in Fracking. It's a governmental agency, so the government should, technically, KNOW what is in fracking fluids.

Additionally, why doesn't the EPA know? They are the real regulators of it. This seems to me to be an election ploy and/or a governmental power grab.

Hey Oklahoma Mom, did you know Fracking more than likely caused that 5.6 earthquake in Oklahoma back in November which happened to be the biggest in Oklahoma history? Here is a quote taken from the website USGS.gov regarding whether fracking causes earthquakes:

Q: Does the production of natural gas from shales cause earthquakes? If so, how are the earthquakes related to these operations?

A:

To produce natural gas from shale formations, it is necessary to increase the interconnectedness of the pore space (permeability) of the shale so that the gas can flow through the rock mass and be extracted through production wells. This is usually done by hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"). Fracking causes small earthquakes, but they are almost always too small to be a safety concern. In addition to natural gas, fracking fluids and formation waters are returned to the surface. These wastewaters are frequently disposed of by injection into deep wells. The injection of wastewater into the subsurface can cause earthquakes that are large enough to be felt and may cause damage.

"more than likely caused that 5.6 earthquake", but no definitive proof.

Can I ask why you believe that the "Halliburton Loophole" was added to the 2005 Clean Drinking Water Act of 2005 while Dick Cheney, CEO of Halliburton was Vice President? If you are not familiar with "Haliburton Loophole" I recommend you google it.

The big oil companies will never tell what chemicals they use when Fracking and the republicans supreme court will back what ever big oil wants. Big oil has more wealth than the total assets of the US government. As far as federal lands goes the state of Az. is passing laws that will force the federal goverment to turn over all federal land in Az. back to the state and the state says it will take it by force if necessary. Remember Az. is a republican state and laws of Az. supercede all federal laws. The supreme is going to let stand the migration law that allow cops to pull you over becusee of the color of you skin. In the south you have driving while black and now in Az. we will have laws driving while brown. Wonder how long before Az. goes after southeast asia, you know driving with slant eyes. We have our two Elite senators to thank for is mindset in the state.