Peter

Spencer

Arin

Allyson

Zac

 Introduction
Background information: hydraulic fracturing process, relationship to Pennsylvania,

its role in systems thinking

Methodology: Economic, Environmental, Social, Political Effects

Why does this matter?

Predicting the Future

Conclusion
Works Cited

Figures and Graphics Used

The first hydraulically fractured well was drilled in

Pennsylvania in 1960.
The process of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is a
description of the technology and process of extracting
methane and hydrocarbons from shale rock.

The process uses:

20 million liters of water per well
200,000 liters of chemicals per well
Depending upon the area, about 5 acres of land must be
cleared per well head as well
Road and pipeline construction for transportation

 There are 17,456 wells in Pennsylvania alone;

they follow the shape of the Marcellus

Most of the fracking in Pennsylvania is done on

private land

The majority of all Marcellus shale fracking is

done in the state of Pennsylvania

Currently there are 66 different operating

companies

Fracking is divided up into predominately two

regions being North East PA and South West PA.

 There are 1,079 wells

795 environmental

violations (red)

One of the first

counties to endure
fracking in
Pennsylvania

 Payments to land owners

If fully developed, 2nd

Largest natural gas field
in the world.

Could fuel the world for 3

years
Stimulation of Business to
Business commerce

2009-2010, $3.9 billion in

added value, $389
million in state & local
tax
By 2020 employment
would be increased by
200,000 jobs
Annual gains in state an
local level would exceed
$1 billion.

Positive Effects
Fracking employs 75,000 Pennsylvanians
That number is expected to grow, predicted by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Labor and

Industry

The average income for an employee of the industry is $65,000 per year

Negative Effects
Situations of environmental justice
Population of workers and tradesmen involved in each well can be overwhelming and

detrimental to everyday activities

 Fresh water consumption

Ground water contamination

Habitat fragmentation
Air pollution
Releasing of green house gasses
Seismic effects

 Most laws are implemented on the state level;

local government has little power

Energy Policy Act of 2005

Safe Drinking Water Act

Immunities to Federal Laws

Standards that guide the industry
Local governing bodies charged with supervising

the practice

 By 2020 fracking could provide 200,000 jobs and bring and excess of

$1 billion annually at the state level

Current regulations exempts extraction industries from important

laws that keep the public safe

Energy Policy Act: "Haliburton Loophole"

Uses on average 20 million liters of water in a single well

Fracking is known to have leached high levels of methane, ethane

and propane into drinking water at explosive levels

Fracking produces high levels of air pollution

If fracking were to
continue, make
process more
efficient
Eliminate open
pond flowback
storage
Use the profits
from taxes to invest
in sustainable
energies

Increased taxes are

suggested
Additional laws to govern
responsible and sustainable
extraction

Long term economic

development in
Pennsylvania would be
better off without extractive
industry

 Fracking brings in hundreds of millions

of dollars a year to otherwise marginal

locations.

The environmental degradation is

extensive
Significant habitat fragmentation

Local communities will not only

experience economic stimulation, but

also decrease in conditions of human and
environmental health

Local communities have no control over

drilling.

Fracking is as a crutch rather

than an answer to either
environmental or economic
sustainability

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C.Shultz. 2013. Marcellus Shale fracking waste caused earthquakes in Ohio. EOS, American Geophysical Union (AGU). Vol. 94 pg. 296. Accessed on 3/6/16
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1URL=/doi/10.1002/2013EO330008/abstract&regionCode=US-OH&identityKey=afb590df-5bfe-48d2-8230-b9f04cb951ac

Perkins, N. D. (2012). The Fracturing of Place: The Regulation of Marcellus Shale Development and the Subordination of Local
Experience.
Fordham Environmental Law Review,23.
Energy Policy Act of 2005, 42 USCS 15801 (2005).
Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 USC 300f et seq. (1974).
Brady, W. J., & Crannell, J. P. (2012). Hydraulic Fracturing Regulations in United States: The Laissez-Faire Approach of the Federal
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R.B. Jackson, A. Vengosh, T.H. Darrah, et al. 2013. Increased stray gas abundance in a subset of drinking water wells near Marcellus shale gas extraction. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of
the United States of America. Vol. 10. Accessed on 3/6/16 from:
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R.W. Howarth, A. Ingraffea, T. Engelder. 2011. Natural gas: Should Fracking Stop? Comment. Accessed on 3/6/16 from:
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Q.Meng. 2015. Spatial analysis of environment and population at risk of natural gas fracking in the state of Pennsylvania, USA. Science of the total Environment. Accessed on 3/28/16 from:
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Q.Meng, S. Ashby. 2014. Distance: A critical aspect for environmental impact assessment of
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62376242

 Title Page Picture: http://www.ibtimes.com/fracking-chemicals-detected-drinking-water-supplies-near-pennsylvania-homes-marcellus-

1909285

Outline Pictures: (Top) http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/09/10/respiratory-skin-problems-soar-near-gas-wells-study-says

(Bottom) http://fuelfix.com/blog/2015/06/30/new-data-reveals-which-u-s-fracking-wells-needed-the-most-water-to-drill/

Intro picture: http://frackinginjurylaw.com/fracking-royalty-fraud/

Scale and location picture: http://kristenbaumlier.com/2011/11/03/the-future-of-fracking-and-the-environment-%E2%80%93-look-to-

pennsylvania/

Study Area: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susquehanna_Valley, http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Susquehanna_County,_Pennsylvania,

http://geology.com/state-map/pennsylvania.shtml, StateImpact.org

Economic:

http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/blogs/2015/brookings%20now/03/frackinggasbills/frackinggasbills_16x9.jpg,
http://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/12/2/1417526104038/ca234827-0a8c-4321-b559-1928bd1b435f2060x1236.jpeg?w=1430&h=-&s=e875dbceec2e86e8b83698661f47df8f

Social: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/13/business/uk-fracking/, http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/13/business/uk-fracking/,

https://socinnovation.wordpress.com/

Environmental: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_QESG3iB-zk/UNS7PG4KFKI/AAAAAAAAAEo/ta2LPQQKpns/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-12-

21+at+19.40.21.png

Political: http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2012/03/20/your-chance-to-sound-off-on-the-safety-of-fracking/Recommendation:

http://www.texasenterprise.utexas.edu/2015/09/28/policy/youre-biased-and-im-not-separating-energy-policy-politics

Conclusion: http://hub.jhu.edu/2015/10/12/fracking-pregnancy-risks