“A 2011 analysis by federal scientists found liquid waste from Marcellus shale gas wells had overall concentrations of radium roughly 40 times what the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission classifies as “hazardous” or “radioactive.” Despite these characteristics, Congress in 1980 exempted oil and gas waste from federal hazardous waste regulations pending a review. In 1988, the U.S. EPA determined that the regulations were not warranted. That’s why cuttings and other fracking solid waste are classified as residual waste (non-hazardous industrial waste) and can be sent to municipal landfills like Westmoreland.”

This story documents how byproducts of Fracking create hazards and costs downstream, and how the industry dodges paying for them.

Along the banks of the Monongahela River, fracking waste in a landfill poses a pollution problem

On a rainy morning, Mike Frederick showed off the Belle Vernon Municipal Authority’s sewage treatment plant, about 30 miles south of Pittsburgh.

This article quotes statistics on the horrific volume of wastewater fracking generates. It’s a terribly destructive process that permanently contaminates water, rendering it unsafe for human or animal consumption. The energy industry propagandizes and minimizes the damage, so you don’t hear much about it. Consider these statistics and think about all the efforts we make to conserve drinking water, such as low-flush toilets, shower restrictors, and drip irrigation for our gardens. Water destruction is yet another externalized cost that drillers aren’t held accountable for.

Fracking wastewater now endangers both drinking water and the wells that regurgitate the wastewater

There’s an old saying that I won’t spell out completely, but which most readers will certainly have heard at least once in their lives, to wit: “Don’t sh– where you eat.”

LEAVE IT IN THE GROUND.

“Despite record natural gas production in Pennsylvania, residents face soaring electricity rates as companies export the resource to higher-paying markets, leaving many unable to afford basic heating and cooling.” — Read the article below.

Fracking was supposed to lower Pennsylvania electric bills. Instead they’re soaring.

The average household electricity bill in the state has risen 31% since 2020, outpacing the national average despite record gas production.

Fracking has no redeeming virtues, except perhaps for opportunistic investors who are unconcerned about the harm it causes.

KEEP IT IN THE GROUND.

The energy interests promote false hopes of short-term savings and hometown opportunities for good jobs. These don’t materialize, but once the permits are issued and the drilling and fracking happens, the negative effects are long term and permanent. We now know that releasing methane, burning it, or making plastic out of it all do permanent damage. It’s so unnecessary.

Fracking’s Broken Promise to Pennsylvania – Inside Climate News

Fracking was supposed to lower Pennsylvanians’ electric bills. Instead, they’re higher than ever—and they’re about to get worse.

The Climate effects are not only big storms, but more frequent and severe small ones. In fact, the insurance industry reports that non-farm losses due to small storms is greater than the increses in large storm losses. The energy industry takes no responsibility for this, but it’s clearly acts of men, not God, causing this. KEEP IT IN THE GROUND.

Some of our politicians would have you believe that deregulation of energy production would be a good thing. The propaganda assures us that drilling can be done safely and won’t do harm.

Our experience where the government fails to exert control is, frankly, ugly. The damage is visible, and for people who live off the land, it can be an existential threat. Reading this article will convince you that nothing good comes to locals when big energy is unfettered.

Opinion | They Came for the Oil. They Took Everything.

Oil extraction and organized crime plague my community in the forests of eastern Mexico, but we’re fighting back.