The nationwide debate over the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has split the state of North Carolina. The fracking process injects massive amounts of chemically treated water into subterranean shale formations to release natural gas, a valuable energy resource that yields a lesser carbon footprint than coal. But the method of extraction is not without serious environmental risks, and residents of the Piedmont area convened in Sanford Oct. 10 to voice concerns and discuss the issue.
State legislators, as well as civilians, attended the meeting to explore both the potential advantages and disadvantages of tapping into natural gas reserves in the Piedmont region.
Fracking is currently illegal in North Carolina, but proponents of the practice want to reverse the law in the economic interest of the state. Opponents fear environmental repercussions and often cite instances of safety violations and widespread groundwater contamination at and around fracking sites in other states. Both viewpoints were presented at Elon University's 10th Annual Fall Environmental Forum Sept. 30.
"There is evidence of growing concern (about fracking) in North Carolina based on comments presented at (the first) public meeting, and more events are being scheduled around the state," said Hope Taylor, executive director of Clean Water for North Carolina, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the state's water sources. "Our shale geology in North Carolina is even more challenging than in other states, as the basins are more fractured, and the shale layer is significantly closer to the groundwater layer used for drinking water."
Major concerns include not only the safety, but also the apportionment of the state's freshwater resources, which are relatively limited. Fracking may draw from both reservoir and groundwater sources to obtain the millions of gallons necessary to penetrate the shale layer and release natural gas.
"Water (that may be used for fracking) is allocated for other uses, like drinking and recreation or maintaining ecological function," said Janet MacFall, professor of environmental studies at Elon University. "The water taken from ground or surface water sources is going to need to be cleaned (of fracking chemicals), which is a very costly process."
Within the 14 counties situated above the shale basins, including neighboring Orange and Chatham counties, major changes and additions to existing infrastructure would be needed to support the heavy industrial traffic to and from frackingsites.
"(Fracking) water is taken in by truck and taken away by truck, and gas and equipment are moved by truck," MacFall said. "Most areas are rural areas and don't support big, heavy- duty roads. There would be a significant cost of building infrastructure, as well as the environmental impact of transporting material."
In other states, inconsistencies in fracking regulations have endangered the health of the environment and the people living in it. Hiring authorities to oversee the extraction process would only be another cost of digging into the energy industry.
"All the wells would need to be inspected frequently, but the State legislature has taken money from the State Department of Natural Resources (DENR) and scaled back on regulatory functions," MacFall said. "If we do allow fracking here, (legislators) might say inspectors and monitors must be hired, but if they don't have the money to hire, no one will do it."
It is unclear at this point if the economic profits of extracting natural gas outweigh the environmental costs, according to MacFall. The DENR is currently conducting a study to identify and compare both the risks and the benefits associated with drilling for natural gas in the Piedmont area. The study is expected to culminate in May 2012.
"We're trying our best with the money and the resources that we have to conduct a comprehensive evaluation," said Diana Kees, communications director of the DENR. "It will be up to the state legislators whether or not the current law is changed"