Pros and
Con of Fracking and why it should be Regulated Federally
Brian
Snodgrass
The
process known as hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” has truly transformed
America’s energy options. America has seen an increase in natural gas
production because it helps reduce dependence on foreign energy sources, it’s
cheap, and it could serve the United States energy needs for as much as 100
years. This sounds great, but hydraulic fracturing brings environmental
and different concerns to other states.
States
against fracking see that it brings pollution and other unpleasant things that
come with shale gas production. It also induces truck traffic, seismic
testing, and other industrial uses to docile, rural communities. In
addition, the process uses large quantities of water, wastewater that must be
disposed of, and toxic greenhouse gas emissions. States such as New York
have banned some shale gas productions and are waiting until further studies
are released. New Yorkers are worried that drilling will contaminate
drinking water that could affect NYC and the whole state. Pricey
Harrison, a Democrat in the North Carolina state legislature states that,
“Strong federal oversight is needed to ensure that state regulatory programs
have standards that will protect our citizens from harm” (Houston
Chronicle). Many see that federal regulation would best be suited for
hydraulic fracturing, but some states view it wouldn’t be a logical
decision.
States
in favor of fracking believe that it will bring thousands of jobs to the state
level, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and will spur innovative
technologies. Many people consider that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ federal
approach would not be effective. Republican, Joe Barton claimed in the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 that , “The recognition that it is states rather than
the fed that can best regulate their domestic oil and gas productions,
especially when it comes to emerging an innovative technologies” (Houston
Chronicle).
So
this brings up the true question, should states or the federal government
regulate fracking? In my opinion,
the federal government needs to regulate fracking to some extent. The EPA
needs to pass a law that requires companies to releases a list of chemicals
that are being used during the fracking process. In addition, they need
to establish rules for air-emissions that are released during hydraulic
fracturing. Lastly, geologic studies need to be assessed to see if
fracking causes earthquakes because quakes cross state boarders, which should
be a federal problem. These proposed laws and assessments are so that the
public can be assured safety.
Abolish
the Superfund: Abandoned Waste Dumps Should be a State Regulation
The
Superfund is a federal government regulation that
cleans up the nation’s uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. The EPA has a
National Priorities List in which they clean up to protect the environment and
the health of the American people. The Superfund also known as CERCLA was
created after the hazardous waste disaster of Love Canal, a neighborhood
located in Niagara Falls, New York.
The
major benefit from the Superfund is the funding. At the federal level,
more money will be allotted for the cleanup of major hazardous sites. Along with money, the federal
government will have the best technology for a proper clean up.
I
believe that the Superfund should be abolished and put on the shoulders of the
states. The main reason why I think it should be demolished is due to
geography. Abandoned hazardous waste dumps are confinable challenges that
should be handled at the state level. Policy analyst John Donadue states
that, “Most waste sites are situated within a single state, and stay there”
(Vig and Kraft pg 848 eBOOK).
Relying on the states for cleanup will speed up the process because it’s
“right in the their backyard.”
Work Cited
Houston Chronicle, Congress
debates whether states or feds should regulate fracking.
Feburary
16, 2013. http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2013/02/congress-debates-
whether-states-or-feds-should-regulate-fracking/
Norman Vig
and Michael Kraft, Environmental Policy: New
Directions for the Twenty-
First
Century,
8th Edition (CQ Press, 2010) Ebook pg. 802
