Monday, April 16, 2012

Does Fracking Cause Earthquakes?

Gas Wells Are Not Our Friends (GWANOF) reader, Laurie, sent this link in today:

http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2012/04/does-fracking-cause-earthquakes

Good question. Recent articles have pointed to the probable answer: Yes. This issue is still under study.  But since we have more natural gas than we know what to do with at the moment, why not stop operations and get the answers BEFORE continuing natural gas drilling while crossing our fingers and hoping for the best?  In my view, we haven't had the greatest of luck with that method, given the number and variety of accidents which occur on a regular basis at well pads, compressor stations, and pipelines.  If public health and a sustainable planet mean anything to us, we must put moratoria on gas drilling operations EVERYWHERE.

See also: http://dearsusquehanna.blogspot.com/2012/04/earthquakes-directly-linked-to-oil-and.html

2 comments:

smurfette said...

I simply do not understand why there is such a race to get every last speck of fossil fuels out of every square inch of Earth, especially when it causes irreversible environmental damage and pollution of air, water, and land. Do people really have so little regard for future generations? Do the CEOs sleep snug in their beds, knowing that their millions come at the expense of other people's hopes, dreams, and health? This is blatant disregard for the "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" of US citizens. I don't know how the planning boards of these large corporations can ignore the fact that sometime; somewhere down the road, somebody they really care about will be affected by their actions now.How will they explain away their culpability when one of their own children has their health and/or water taken away because of the poisoning of the environment due to their decisions today? Will they say, "I'm sorry that you're dying, but we HAD to get all that natural gas out of the ground right away." Do they think that countries on the other side of the planet are going to drill through the center of the Earth and somehow "steal" our gas and oil? Try a moratorium on drilling until they find a safe way to drill, people!Until they find a way to drill that doesn't kill, we've had our fill!

Peacegirl said...

Laurie, you are a very wise woman.