RHETORIC:
The Denver Post, defined hydraulic fracturing—or fracking—as “the process that pumps large volumes of water, sand and trace chemicals into a well to crack rock and release oil and gas.” Denver Post, 9/27/2012.
REALITY:
Fracking Fluids Contain Between 10 Thousand and 50 Thousand Gallons of Chemicals per Well
Fracking a new oil and gas well requires between 1 million to 5 million gallons of water (Denver Post, 11/23/2011). Since chemicals constitute approximately one percent of the total (Exxon Mobile, 8/25/2011), each well takes between 10,000 to 50,000 gallons of chemicals.
Fracking Fluids Contain Harmful Contaminants
Researchers have identified a total of 396 dangerous chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. Of the 396 chemicals, 92 percent can harm the respiratory tract, 39 percent can impact the kidneys and 21 percent can cause cancer. The Endocrine Disruption Exchange Drilling Chemicals, 4/12/2009.
Fracking is the Likely Source of Dangerous, Cancer Causing Chemicals in Wyoming Water Supply
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) believes that fracking is the likely source of carcinogenic benzene pollution in drinking water wells in Pavillion, Wyoming. The amount of Benzene in wells was measured at levels exceeding the EPA’s maximum permitted concentrations by nearly 5,000 percent. Environmental Protection Agency, 12/8/2011.