Capiello, Dina. (2011, November). EPA to probe gas drilling’s toll on drinking water.
Retrieved from Lehighvalleylive.com.
The Environmental Protection Agency is to perform an assessment of drinking water in natural gas drilling intensive areas. Due to rising concerns for contamination of fresh water drinking sources over the past few decades the EPA has been pushed to act on the opinions of tens of thousands of directly affected citizens. This article, produced by the associated press, highlights the potential risks of hydraulic fracturing as well as the interests represented by the EPA. This study is allegedly based from a public health and drinking water perspective. Specific to the Lehigh Valley are the potential for non-direct contamination of drinking water via the source of drinking water; the Delaware River Watershed. To examine the geographical behaviors of fracking ground water contamination there may be studies in the Lehigh Valley to determine whether or not there has been an effect. To preface this study to be released in 2014 there was a study conducted in 2004 which concluded that hydraulic fracturing poses no threat to public safety. With years more experience on the subject as well as the ability for more and more people to speak their mind the EPA has been shown to portray a more serious approach to the risks involved with hydraulic fracturing.
Chung, Huhnsik, & Hoffnagle, Gregory. (2011, June). The risks of hydrofracking: as the nation scrambles to feed its insatiable energy demand, a natural gas drilling method had become increasingly popular. but critics say it also carries significant environmental risks. will insurance help mitigate exposure?. Risk Management, 58(5), Retrieved from Academic OneFile
Chung and Hoffnagle’s peer-reviewed article from Risk Management offers background on the major debate over hydraulic fracturing. Unlike the other sources cited, this article goes into detail about Barak Obama’s policy and then goes from there to provide a detailed description of the “claims” from various sides in this debate. For example, hydraulic fracturing, liability, pollution, directors and officer, and worker claims are made throughout this article, which is useful for the project because the goal is to show who is and who is not in favor of fracking in the Lehigh-Valley Region. In addition to the claims, this article also provides the reader with a list of major facts about the process in general. The article doesn’t only focus on the Lehigh Valley, which is why we consider it useful background on the topic since it is necessary for us to understand the situation overall when trying to complete our final project.
Manuel, John. (2010, May). EPA tackles fracking. Environmental Health Perspectives, 118 (5) Retrieved from Academic OneFile
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in 2010 that it will conduct a study on the potentially harmful effects of hydraulic fracturing on the population’s health as well as the water quality. Manuel’s article is peer-reviewed and provides legitimate information on the different studies that have and will be performed on the process of hydraulic fracturing. The EPA has previously reported that fracking poses “minimal threat” to environment, specifically drinking water. These results have been refuted and debated over the years, which is why the EPA continues to do more studies on the situation at hand. This is a useful article because these studies produce valuable empirical data that will help lead to decisions on fracking in the long run, as well as people’s opinions on the process.
Reis, John C. (1992, June). Coping with the waste stream from drilling for oil. Mechanical Engineering-CIME, 114(6). Retrieved from Academic OneFile
This source is a peer-reviewed article from Mechanical Engineering- CIME, which describes the common chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing and the waste that is produced from the process. Reis goes in depth about the impacts that hydraulic fracturing has on the environment, as well as discussing how the U.S. Government gets involved. Overall, the article’s major focus is on the management of the produced waste and the negative effects that the current waste control is causing for the people and the environment. The discussion in this article will be useful for the project since it provides background on a major issue with hydraulic fracturing and discusses the possible solutions for the waste management problem. Also, the description of such problem will help provide support for people who are against fracking in the Lehigh-Valley. The limitation from this article is that it is talking broadly about the process rather than focusing on the Lehigh-Valley. This is a limitation because the project is focusing on which people in the Lehigh-Valley, specifically, are for or against fracking, not the general population of the United States.
Schmidt, Charles. (2011, August). Blind rush? shale gas boom proceeds amid human health questions. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(8), pA348+, Retrieved from Academic OneFile
In class, we have discussed hydraulic fracturing on numerous occasions, including when going over the “Game Changer” podcast, and viewing the documentary, “Gasland.” This peer-reviewed report from Environmental Health Perspectives references “Game Changer” and “Gasland” when outlining how residential drilling causes health problems for the population. The article also discusses the need for health effect studies as well as regulations for air pollution and water quality in order to benefit the people and environment. An advantage of this report is that it not only discusses negatives of the process but also includes the positives and benefits that come from hydraulic fracturing, which is important when we are compiling ideas for the project. Although this report doesn’t only focus on the Lehigh-Valley, it is more specific than the Reis piece because it focuses on the areas in Pennsylvania that are on the Marcellus Shale.
Shortell, Tom. (2011, March). Lehigh Valley Sierra Club chairman urges people to oppose Marcellus Shale fracking. Retrieved from http://wtfrackorg.blogspot.com
Although a blog-based website this page is extremely representative of the broad base of support the anti-fracking movement has acquired. The blog wtfrackorg.blogspot.com has a specific goal of raising awareness and support against hydraulic fracturing. Mentioned in this post is the stance of the Lehigh Valley Sierra Club Chairman urging residents to oppose Marcellus Shale fracking efforts. This source will be limited as a source for citations but is helpful in identifying some of the smaller citizen groups involved in fracking in the Lehigh Valley. Also included are communities directly affected by hydraulic fracturing in the recent past.
Clean water action. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cleanwateraction.org/
This source is the website for the Clean Water Action Environmental Group. The reason that the entire website is being cited is because of the large amount of information available regarding fracking. The group is nationwide but specific data for the state of Pennsylvania is available. Amongst the information available for Pennsylvania is a letter to Senator Scarnati from the group sharing concerns about his proposed Marcellus Shale legislation and lack of drinking water supplies protection. Also available for Pennsylvania is a list of Environmental Violations at Marcellus Shale Drilling Sites. All of the aspects of the website will be very helpful for our project because specific data is given as to how fracking affects Pennsylvanians. One thing that makes this website limited is that there is no information specifically on the Lehigh Valley.
Comparative analysis & commentary on the report of the governorʼs Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission [Abstract]. (2011, August). Pennsylvania Environmental Council Report, pA 1+. Retrieved from http://marcellus.pecpa.org/?p=492
This report is a response to the results of the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission. It is a very useful source because it illustrates how the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) feels about the report done by the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission. Our project will then be able to analyze the views that different groups have on the use of the Marcellus Shale region. The PDF document then gives the recommendations that the PEC has regarding public health which is the group’s main concern. A limiting part of this source is that the document discusses the entire Marcellus shale region rather than specific locations.
Delaware Basin River Commission. (2011, July 1). Water resources plan for the Delaware River Basin. Retrieved from http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/basinplan.htm
This site was written by the Delaware River Basin Commission which is an organization which holds hearings on policy matters and water resource projects under regulatory review. This site includes information regarding the current state of the Delaware River and its tributaries as well as a plan of action for future regulations or developments relating to the use and conservation of the river. It also contains progress reports from the years 2005 to 2011, which give information about current action in each state, and a map gallery focused on water issues in the watershed. This site also contains information about upcoming events, one of which is the upcoming meeting to draft natural gas development regulations for the Delaware Basin which is to be held on November 21.
Delaware River Basin Commission. (2011, August). Comments on DRBC draft Natural Gas Development Regulations. Retrieved from http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/NGC/index.htm
This source was also from the DRBC and contains written comments received from the public, elected federal and state officials, the natural gas industry, other non-oil or gas industries and business groups, and environmental and watershed groups regarding the regulation of natural gas drilling in the Delaware watershed. It also contains a list of petitions that were signed. This site will be useful in finding primary sources regarding the opinions of public officials as well as understanding the public opinion. This includes 23 personal comments from Pennsylvania senators and representatives as well as 14 comments from local officials in Pennsylvania.
Food and Water Watch. Mapping the movement Commission. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/fracking/fracking-action-center/map/
This map was created by the Food and Water Watch organization, which is an activist organization, to track the local and statewide measures against hydraulic fracturing. This map includes information at the local level including a list of passed measures by state, including a Resolution of the City of Easton regarding the support of Pittsburgh’s adoption of the Community Protection from Natural Gas Extraction Ordinance. Overall this source provides a good visual representation of where fracking is occurring, where action concerning natural gas extraction is taking place, and well as documentation of those actions.
Governor’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission. (2011, July). Final Report.
This is a report compiled by Governor Tom Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Advisory board which contains technical, regulatory and economic information regarding the natural gas extraction in Pennsylvania. The report was requested by Corbett under executive order 2011-01. This review includes recommendation for the safe, efficient and environmentally responsible extraction and use of unconventional natural gas reserves in Pennsylvania. This document includes the existing regulatory framework, summaries by working groups and documentation of public comment and response. Overall this reviews current action in Pennsylvania surrounding the development of natural gas, and the opinions of several of Pennsylvania’s elected officials on the issue, and technical backing for the recommendations.
Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission. (n.d.). Retrieved from Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection website
In this section of the Department of Environmental Protection, there is information about the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission. The information in this section includes minutes from past Commission meetings that involve discussion of public drinking water. Also included are maps of Marcellus formation in Pennsylvania. A very useful part to the site is the draft recommendations from current members of the Commission. A draft on Public Safety and Environmental Protection details the regulation of where public wells are located, making sure that they are in locations where there is safe drinking water available. Our group will be able to use this information because the Commission is another example of a group of people that has a voice in the regulation of Pennsylvania drinking water. Something that makes the website limiting is that it once again lacks specific information on the Lehigh Valley.
Marcellus Shale Protest. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://marcellusprotest.org/
The above source is another website so the citation is very limiting. The website is an information clearing house about Marcellus Shale gas drilling and activism. On the website is information regarding protests that are taking place across the Marcellus Shale region but mostly in Pennsylvania. Also on the website is a response to Governor Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Implantation Plan voicing the opinions of the protestors on the destruction of natural and human resources in Pennsylvania. Because our topic involves “who cares” about fracking in Pennsylvania, this site gives an example of an environmental group taking a stand.
PA Chamber Green Initiative. (2011). Index Company Spotlights. Retrieved from:
http://www.greenpachamber.org/www/company_spotlight/index.php
The PA Chamber of Commerce Green Initiative web index is a portal developed by the state of Pennsylvania to offer information on going green for the public’s benefit. Although not specific to the Lehigh Valley this source will offer a larger, more contextual perspective on fracking. Important to note was the focus on industrial development and support for natural gas companies as opposed to the environment or fresh water support groups. In order to connect this source to the Lehigh Valley broader ideas such as clean energy advocating playing a larger role than the negativity surrounding drinking water and the environment
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. (2011, March). DEP Secretary Leads Lehigh Valley Small Business Energy Forum. Retrieved from
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?id=75
“DEP Secretary Leads Lehigh Valley Small Business Energy Forum” In order to instruct small businesses on development and goals for the future the Department of Environmental Protection secretary held a conference to educate small businesses. With focus on investment subsidizing cleaner fuels such as natural gas and solar panels the DEP looks towards a mixed approach to environmental conservation. This source is important because it, not only offers a perspective involved in the fracking debate, but it also sheds light on the values and motives behind the actions that the DEP will take.