Hydraulic Fracturing- Fracking

 

Your task is to thoroughly research the issue of fracking (starting websites are located under “process”) and form an opinion.  You will read conflicting articles showing both the positive and negative side effects of fracking. For example:

Pro:

• Provides jobs to oil company workers

• Supplies natural gas and oil- a resource human’s use everyday

• It is cleaner, and produces less emissions than coal burning

 

Con:

• Large amounts of water required to frack, as well as potential contamination of ground water

• Migration of fracking chemicals, including methane (a greenhouse gas worse than CO­2­) to surface

• Potential earthquakes

 

These are simply starting arguments, and should you use them in your presentation for City Hall, specific numbers and trusted, reputable resources (like the ones provided) must be used.  Remember, that at the meeting at City Hall, there will be people who support both sides, it is your job to create a strong argument, and persuade everyone there why the oil company should or should not frack.

You may use the Internet, YouTube, newspaper articles, and personal accounts by people affected by other hydraulic fracturing sites.