Changes

At current prices, fracking provides a fuel for generating [[electricity]] that is cleaner and cheaper than [[coal]].  This lowers the amount of air pollution from making electricity.  However, some people argue that fracking also poses environmental risks.  First, some drillers do not properly dispose of the fracking fluid mixture after the well is done.  Second, people are now drilling wells in places that did not historically have oil and gas wells.  One of the first successful places which used fracking was the Barnett Shale near Ft Worth, Texas.  Wells were drilled from locations along the Trinity River near the downtown part of that city.  Third, some wells do not properly cement the gap between the well casing and the surrounding rock.  Historically, shale rock separated the rock layer that supplied water wells with drinking water from other porous layers that held oil and gas.  Without cement, and with more cracks in the shale layer, it is possible that some gas can travel into the rock layer holding the water and contaminate it.  Fear of drinking water contamination or destruction of natural land led some voters to argue that fracking should be banned.  The Obama Administration proposed regulation of fracking on federally-owned lands.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/05/us/new-fracking-rule-is-issued-by-obama-administration.html?_r=0|title=New Proposal on Fracking Gives Ground to Industry|work=New York Times|date=May 4, 2012 |accessdate=March 18, 2014|first=John|last=Broder}}</ref>  Producers argue that if the drilling contractors do their jobs properly, these forms of environmental damage can be avoided.

At current prices, fracking provides a fuel for generating [[electricity]] that is cleaner and cheaper than [[coal]].  This lowers the amount of air pollution from making electricity.  However, some people argue that fracking also poses environmental risks.  First, some drillers do not properly dispose of the fracking fluid mixture after the well is done.  Second, people are now drilling wells in places that did not historically have oil and gas wells.  One of the first successful places which used fracking was the Barnett Shale near Ft Worth, Texas.  Wells were drilled from locations along the Trinity River near the downtown part of that city.  Third, some wells do not properly cement the gap between the well casing and the surrounding rock.  Historically, shale rock separated the rock layer that supplied water wells with drinking water from other porous layers that held oil and gas.  Without cement, and with more cracks in the shale layer, it is possible that some gas can travel into the rock layer holding the water and contaminate it.  Fear of drinking water contamination or destruction of natural land led some voters to argue that fracking should be banned.  The Obama Administration proposed regulation of fracking on federally-owned lands.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/05/us/new-fracking-rule-is-issued-by-obama-administration.html?_r=0|title=New Proposal on Fracking Gives Ground to Industry|work=New York Times|date=May 4, 2012 |accessdate=March 18, 2014|first=John|last=Broder}}</ref>  Producers argue that if the drilling contractors do their jobs properly, these forms of environmental damage can be avoided.

==Fracking bans==

==Fracking bans==

Although fracking has been used to complete wells since 1947, it did not draw public attention and criticism until recent years.  In 2010, the John Fox movie "Gasville" caused the general public to question the safety surrounding fracking and created a bit of panic among environmental activists.  It shows a water tap that could be ignited by entrapped methane.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ApZkNsXfJE</ref>  This prompted the natural gas industry to release a rebuttal film called "Truthland".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.truthlandmovie.com/watch-movie/|title=Truthland View The Movie|accessdate=May 5,2016}}</ref>  The debate has lead environmental activists to call for bans or moratoria on fracking specifically or oil and gas well drilling more generally.

Although fracking has been used to complete wells since 1947, it did not draw public attention and criticism until recent years.  In 2010, the John Fox movie "Gasland" caused the general public to question the safety surrounding fracking and created a bit of panic among environmental activists.  It shows a water tap that could be ignited by entrapped methane.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ApZkNsXfJE</ref>  This prompted the natural gas industry to release a rebuttal film called "Truthland".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.truthlandmovie.com/watch-movie/|title=Truthland View The Movie|accessdate=May 5,2016}}</ref>  The debate has lead environmental activists to call for bans or moratoria on fracking specifically or oil and gas well drilling more generally.

On March 18, 2014, a referendum on fracking in southern [[Illinois]] won in a landslide.  Fracking has brought prosperity to [[Pennsylvania]], where it is allowed, and is controversial in [[New York]] and [[New Jersey]], where it is banned by statewide moratoria and some local ordinances.<ref>[http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/19312259/article-Secaucus-bans-%E2%80%98fracking%E2%80%99-Local-officials-also-call-for-statewide-and-national-ban-?instance=special_coverage_bullets_right_column NJ city bans fracking]</ref>

On March 18, 2014, a referendum on fracking in southern [[Illinois]] won in a landslide.  Fracking has brought prosperity to [[Pennsylvania]], where it is allowed, and is controversial in [[New York]] and [[New Jersey]], where it is banned by statewide moratoria and some local ordinances.<ref>[http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/19312259/article-Secaucus-bans-%E2%80%98fracking%E2%80%99-Local-officials-also-call-for-statewide-and-national-ban-?instance=special_coverage_bullets_right_column NJ city bans fracking]</ref>

In Colorado, two towns enacted fracking bans, which were overturned by the Colorado Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://insideenergy.org/2016/05/02/co-supreme-court-strikes-down-local-fracking-bans/|title=CO Supreme Court Strikes Down Local Fracking Bans|first=Dan |last=Boyce |date= May 2, 2016|accessdate=May 4, 2016}}</ref>

In Colorado, two towns enacted fracking bans, which were overturned by the Colorado Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://insideenergy.org/2016/05/02/co-supreme-court-strikes-down-local-fracking-bans/|title=CO Supreme Court Strikes Down Local Fracking Bans|first=Dan |last=Boyce |date= May 2, 2016|accessdate=May 4, 2016}}</ref>

==Trade secrets==

==Trade secrets==

Each drilling company has its own secret recipe for the mixture that it uses to frac wells.  Each company claims that by adding chemicals to the water and sand mixture, more cracks will be made and a better flow of oil or gas will result.  There is a nationwide battle of whether the drilling companies can keep their recipes secret.  Wyoming was the first state to requiring drilling companies to file their list of fracing fluid ingredient with state regulators.  Environmental groups then sued to get public disclosure of those recipes.  On March 12, 2014, the Wyoming Supreme Court remanded the lawsuit to make the drilling companies prove that their recipes were protected "trade secrets."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/wyoming-high-court-remands-fracking-secrets-case-22883760|title=Wyoming High Court Remands Fracking Secrets Case|work=Associated Press|date=March 12, 2014|accessdate=March 19, 2014}}</ref>  The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) together with ExxonMobil have developed model legislation for states to adopt that would require the recipes to be filed with state agencies but withheld from public disclosure as trade secrets.<ref name=propublica>{{cite news|url=http://www.propublica.org/article/alec-and-exxonmobil-push-loopholes-in-fracking-chemical-disclosure-rules|title=ALEC and ExxonMobil Push Loopholes in Fracking Chemical Disclosure Rules|work=ProPublica|first=Cora |last=Currier|date=April 24, 2012|accessdate=March 19, 2014}}</ref>  The US Environmental Protection Agency cannot regulate fracking in order to protect groundwater, because a 2005 law exempted fracking from the [[Safe Drinking Water Act]], which controls how industries inject substances underground.<ref name=propublica/>

Each drilling company has its own secret recipe for the mixture that it uses to frac wells.  Each company claims that by adding chemicals to the water and sand mixture, more cracks will be made and a better flow of oil or gas will result.  There is a nationwide battle of whether the drilling companies can keep their recipes secret.  Wyoming was the first state to requiring drilling companies to file their list of fracing fluid ingredient with state regulators.  Environmental groups then sued to get public disclosure of those recipes.  On March 12, 2014, the Wyoming Supreme Court remanded the lawsuit to make the drilling companies prove that their recipes were protected "trade secrets."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/wyoming-high-court-remands-fracking-secrets-case-22883760|title=Wyoming High Court Remands Fracking Secrets Case|work=Associated Press|date=March 12, 2014|accessdate=March 19, 2014}}</ref>  The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) together with ExxonMobil have developed model legislation for states to adopt that would require the recipes to be filed with state agencies but withheld from public disclosure as trade secrets.<ref name=propublica>{{cite news|url=http://www.propublica.org/article/alec-and-exxonmobil-push-loopholes-in-fracking-chemical-disclosure-rules|title=ALEC and ExxonMobil Push Loopholes in Fracking Chemical Disclosure Rules|work=ProPublica|first=Cora |last=Currier|date=April 24, 2012|accessdate=March 19, 2014}}</ref>  The US Environmental Protection Agency cannot regulate fracking in order to protect groundwater, because a 2005 law exempted fracking from the [[Safe Drinking Water Act]], which controls how industries inject substances underground.<ref name=propublica/>