Legal issues with hydraulic fracturing Essay Example for Free

Legal issues with hydraulic fracturing EssayState the primary reasoned issue raised by hydraulic fracturing postulate the primary environmental issues raised by hydraulic fracturing and state what part of hydraulic fracturing plays or bequeath play in meeting U. S. energy needs. finding more energy sources including oil and natural grease-gun will help to meet the energy request and help provide our country with reliable fuel supplies. The prediction is that oil and natural gas will continue to provide more than half of the energy needs for American consumers even as selection and renewable energy sources expand. We have been drilling for years but the discovery of different methods to get gas out of the ground such as hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing is enabling the development of unconventional internal oil resources.Rapid expansion of fracturing with the growing complaints of well water contamination and water prime(a) problems effrontery to this process ha s requests for more state and federal regulations over hydraulic fracturing. According to the Department of Energys (DOEs) Energy Information (EIA) reports that natural gas from tight sand formations is the largest source of unconventional performance, while production from shale formations is the fastest growing sourceAccording to the Hydraulic Fracturing and Safe Water Act Issues state, the process of create a shale gas well by drilling through an overlying aquifer, completing and casing the well, bear upon the well by hydraulic fracturing and producing the gas is an issue for increasing the insecurity of groundwater contamination. Another concern with the potency contamination of drinking water wells from surface activities.Leaky surface impoundments, accidental spills, or incautious surface disposal of drilling fluids at the natural gas production site could increase the risk of contaminating the nearby water well. Still more concerns involve the management of storage, tre atment, and disposal of water produced in the fracturing process. Broader environmental issues associated with geographically expanding development of unconventional gas resources include water withdrawals from streams, lakes and aquifer potential air quality impacts and land use changes.Until recently, the oil and gas industry has not been required to disclose what chemicals they were using in their fracking fluids. Oil and gas extraction activities are generally exempt from the disclosure requirements of the Emergency Planning and community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) Thus, a movement has come for disclosure as part of the state permitting processes. The growing opinion has been that laws should require detailed reporting and broad public disclosure. It is undisputed the need for sources in natural gas and oil to enable us to be less dependent on right(prenominal) sources.According to the EPA, Natural gas plays a key role in our nations clean energy future. The U.S. has wide rese rves of natural gas that are commercially viable as a result of advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies enabling greater access to gas in shale formations The task at hand is to perform hydraulic fracturing within safe environmental methods to value our water sources from contamination and protect the quality of air that we breathe. The push for legislative laws to govern the companies who perform hydraulic fracturing lend to accountability and the anticipation of safe air and water.Resourced CitedNatural gas extraction hydraulic fracturing. (n.d.). Retrieved 09/22/2013 from http//www2.epa.gov/hydraulicfracturingOrford, A. (2011). Hydraulic fracturing legislative and regulative trends. Retrieved 09/21/2013 from http//www.martenlaw.com/newletter/20111004-fracking-roundupVann, A. Congressional Research Service, (2011). Hydraulic fracturing and safe water act issues (7-5700). Retrieved 09/22/2013 from website http//www.arcticgas.gov/sites/default/files /documents/hydraulic-fracturing-and-safe-drinking-water-act-issues.pdf