Can "Fracking" be done safely?

The issue of "fracking" which is the method used today to drill for natural gas remains controversial.  As I blogged about a few months ago,

      

   "Any discussion of how our Country meets its growing energy needs tends to breakdown into partisan disagreements that pit energy producers against conservationists.  Fracking is just the latest energy production method to be thrown into this energy debate with nuclear power, off shore drilling, solar power, wind power and the Keystone pipeline. The controversy around fracking is the environmental impacts of the chemicals used with the water that is pumped into the shale to release the natural gas.  The use of chemicals in the fracking process has been exempted from meeting the requirements of the Clean Water regulations passed by Congress back in the 1970's.  Halleburton Corporation lobbied for this exemption by saying that the proprietary rights of the company would be violated in having to publicly release the information on the chemicals used.  One of the issues that the Maryland Commission is examining is how the water returned from fracking is processed to remove any harmful chemicals.  Can water treatment plants remove the chemicals safely? Or better yet how can the chemicals be prevented from contaminating the ground water."  

     The Climate Change Initiative of Howard County will be participating in some events this week in DC. 


STOP THE FRACK ATTACK: Many events leading up to the Rally on Saturday, July 28 at the U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC.
http://www.stopthefrackattack.org/schedule/ - Full Schedule

• Friday, July 27: Stop the Frack Gathering at St. Stephens Church, 1525 Newton St. NW, Washington, that includes training sessions from 10 a.m. to noon, a strategy session from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and a town hall from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  
  
• Saturday, July 28, Stop the Frack Attack in DC

1 pm: CCAN rally and walk to Stop the Frack Attack protest at 2pm. The gathering will be at Spirit of Justice Park (C St SW & South Capitol), about a five-minute walk from Stop the Frack and about a block from the Capitol. Use South Metro. Delegate Heather Mizeur and Mike Tidwell will speak about the fight to stop fracking in Maryland. We'll distribute Maryland-specific signs and then walk over to the rally together. To carpool with CCIHC, email hococlimatechange@gmail.com. Meet at 11:15 am at Broken Land Parkway Park & ride WEST side

(directions at http://maryland.sierraclub.org/hc/directions.html#blpr )

2 pm: Stop the Frack Attack at the West Lawn of the United States Capitol, Washington, DC. Join this historic event convened by citizens from affected communities, together with environmental organizations and community groups, announcing a call to action to demand an end to putting oil and gas drilling profits ahead of public health, clean water and air and the safety of our communities.

3:30 pm: March through streets of DC to delivery our message to the American Petroleum Institute and American Natural Gas Association.

http://www.stopthefrackattack.org/schedule/

Sign the Petition for Fracking Moratorium in Maryland
http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org/take-action/maryland/sign-the-petition-in-support-for-safe-fracking-practices-in-maryland