Part 1(a) Should be at least 500 words with in APA text citations this is a orig
Part 1(a) Should be at least 500 words with in APA text citations this is a original discussion post. Make sure that it is at least 2 references that are from websites are based in the United States.
What is fracking? What are both its potential and risks?
Part 1(b) This is a discussion response. Should be at least 300 words with in text citations and APA formatting. There should be at least 2 references that are from websites and are based in the United States. Remember this is a discussion response and should be an addition to what was already stated.
Fracking is extracting natural gas and oil by pumping water, sand, and various chemicals injected deep into the ground at high pressure. Rocks are fractured by the injection of the mixture, which opens passages for the gas or oil to travel to the wellbore, which can then be extracted. The fracking process occurs at depths 5,000 to 20,000 feet below the surface.
The potential benefits of fracking are plentiful. Advances in this practice have increased access to natural gas and oil reserves that were previously deemed unreachable, which can increase production and energy independence. Likewise, fracking is a relatively clean energy source and emits fewer air pollutants than other fossil fuels, such as coal, providing lower emissions and less CO2 production. Finally, fracking is expected to improve the economy; numerous jobs are created, increasing taxes and money circulated into local communities.
However, while the potential benefits of fracking are considerable, the process carries certain risks that could impose a high cost on public health and the environment. The millions of gallons of water needed to complete the process can result in water scarcity if used in areas already experiencing water shortage. Fracking has also been linked to seismic activity due to the high pressure used during the process.
Furthermore, injecting toxic chemicals used in fracking can contaminate drinking water sources near the drilling site. As the chemicals are not disclosed to the public, the health risks associated with contamination remain unclear. Moreover, methane release during fracking can result in air pollution (Vaughan, 2018). Furthermore, the potential risks of fracking also extend to transporting and storing the extracted gas and oil, as the potential for leaks, explosions, and environmental damage are all possible.
In conclusion, fracking has allowed us to tap into previously inaccessible energy sources. However, its potential risks to public health and the environment must be carefully weighed before proceeding. The overwhelming consensus suggests further research is needed before any conclusive benefits can be determined.
Reference
Vaughan, A. (2018, November 10). Fracking – the reality, the risks, and what the future holds. The Guardian; The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/feb/26/frack…
Part 1(c) This is a discussion response. Should be at least 300 words with in text citations and APA formatting. There should be at least 2 references that are from websites and are based in the United States. Remember this is a discussion response and should be an addition to what was already stated.
Fracking is a method that involves blasting huge amounts of water into the ground and mixing it with sand to extract oil and gas from deep into the earth. This operation has been spreading across the United States rapidly. Fracking took off in the early 2000s, allowing oil producers to access previously isolated supplies (Maizland & Siripurapu, 2020). The process of injecting liquid and materials at high pressure to create small fractures within tight shale formations, which must be safely extracted from the ground, is about three to five days from start to finish. Some of the most prominent companies that utilize the process of fracking are ExxonMobil, Chevron, British Petroleum (BP), and Shell.
There are several reasons why this process is becoming so popular. Fracking has allowed the United States to improve its domestic energy production. Finding ways to be self-sufficient means that there is less reliance on other countries to be the suppliers of oil and gas. Less reliance means less impact on the U.S. when tensions arise with the countries that are the oil and gas suppliers. Fracking has also created an industry that requires a robust workforce, meaning more jobs. Areas with declining industries are being revitalized with employment opportunities. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, in 2020, the fracking industry employed approximately 1.5 million people in the United States. In 2014, fracking contributed to 2.5% of America’s GDP (Abascal, 2014).
The areas where fracking is the most prevalent are North Dakota, Texas, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico. Fracking generates revenue for the state governments through the severance taxes imposed on oil and gas production. According to the U.S. Department of Interior, the federal government collected over $7 billion in revenues from onshore oil and gas leases in fiscal year 2020 (U.S. Department of Interior, 2021).
When it comes to environmental concerns, there are many that the public health department wants to bring to light. Producing and burning oil and gas creates almost half of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, carbon dioxide and methane. Burning oil and gas fosters climate change and has global consequences. The trapped gases contribute to heatwaves, droughts, floods, strong storms, and other environmental catastrophes. Climate researchers have advised that global emissions must decrease by 45% by 2030 to limit warming to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above preindustrial levels (Maizland & Siripurapu, 2020). Hydraulic fracturing has also brought about human health hazards like groundwater contamination and its use as drinking water. Seventeen million U.S. residents live within one mile of an active oil/gas well and are potentially exposed to pollutants because of fracturing (Wollin et al., 2020).
Due to many environmental and public health concerns, a handful of countries have taken steps to ban fracking operations. In 2011, France became the first country to ban fracking (Skylar, 2014). The bill passed the National Assembly on June 21, 2014, with a vote of 176 to 151 and was written into law on June 30, 2014 (Skylar, 2014). While France issued a complete ban, other countries, like Germany, have imposed strict regulations and oversight on fracking to mitigate potential risks.
References:
Abascal, E. (2014). Fracking Unmasked: The Real Effect on U.S. GDP. IESE Business School University of Navarra. https://blog.iese.edu/economics/2014/11/18/tracking-unmasked-the-real-effect-on-us-gdp-growth/#:~:text=Fracking%20(unconventional%20oil%20and%20gas,this%20percentage%20is%20quickly%20rising.
Maizland, L., & Siripurapu, A. (2020). How the U.S. Oil and Gas Industry Works. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/how-us-oil-and-gas-industry-works.
Report on the Federal Oil and Gas Leasing Program (2021) U.S. Department of the Interior. https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/report-on-…
Skylar, B. (2014) France Bans Fracking. People’s World. https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/france-bans-f…
Wolin, KM., Damm, G., Foth, H., Freyberger, A., Gebel, T., Mangerich, A., Gundert-Remy, U., Partosch, F., Röhl, C., Schupp, T., Hengstler, JG. (2020). Critical Evaluation of Human Health Risks Due to Hydraulic Fracturing in Natural Gas and Petroleum Production. Arch Toxicol. doi: 10.1007/s00204-020-02758-7. Epub 2020 May 9. PMID: 32385535; PMCID: PMC7225182.
Part 2. Should be at least 1000 words. APA format with in text citations at least 3 references that are websites and are based in the United States. Please follow the attachment.
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