The Issue
Fracking
EWG’s investigations highlight the inherent risks of the current boom in drilling and hydraulic fracturing operations and empower citizens and lawmakers to work for better regulation.
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The Latest on Fracking
On a recent episode of Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show," Texas oil and gas executive T. Boone Pickens proudly declared, "I have fracked 3,000 wells in my life. I have never seen anything damaged."
Read MoreThe Environmental Working Group (EWG) commends the important investigation of hydraulic fracturing released today (Jan. 31) by U.S. Reps. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass) and Diana DeGette (D-Colo.). Their disturbing findings show that 1) oil and natural gas drilling companies injected more than 32 million gallons of diesel fuel or fluids containing diesel fuel in hydraulically fractured wells in 19 states between 2005 and 2009; and 2) no state and federal regulators have issued the required permits for this use of diesel fuel, an apparent violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
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Whether it’s from flood, fire or a tornado, there are few more devastating events than losing a home. But it’s hard to equal the shock of having your house suddenly just blow up.
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For a while there, it was just environmental watchdogs like EWG and film makers like Josh Fox (Gasland) and Debra Anderson (Split Estate) talking about the environmental consequences of hydraulic fracturing (aka "fracking") to extract natural gas from deep shale deposits.
Read MoreWASHINGTON – August 5, 2010. More than 25 conservation and community organizations from across the United States asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a congressional committee to investigate whether natural gas and oil companies broke the law by injecting diesel fuel underground in a controversial process known as hydraulic fracturing.
Read MoreHopes for comprehensive legislation to combat climate pollution evaporated Thursday (July 22) after months of wrangling in the Senate. In its place Senate leaders are proposing what is being billed as an “oil-spill only” bill with a few added energy provisions.
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Post Gasland premiere screening Q and A with director Josh Fox at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Part 1 of 2.
Read MorePost Gasland premiere screening Q and A with director Josh Fox at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Part 2 of 2.
Read MoreWASHINGTON, June 18 -- Film director Josh Fox grew up in rural Pennsylvania on the Delaware River, which sits above the natural gas-rich Marcellus shale formation deep underground.
Read More"Everywhere I went, it was the same story: water trouble, health problems, hazardous explosive conditions - inside the house."
Read MoreJosh Fox, director and star of the award-winning new documentary film Gasland, goes on PBS's Now to highlight the threat that natural gas extraction brings to human health and the environment. Fox was inspired to tell this timely story when natural gas drilling came knocking on his door in the Catskills/Poconos region of Upstate New York and Pennsylvania.
Read MoreFinally, our climate change champions in the U.S. Senate are defending the long-suffering natural gas industry from the latest round of ridiculously burdensome drinking water protections. From what we hear the Senate’s draft climate bill may call for no regulation of the industry under the Safe Drinking Water Act. It’s about time.
Read MoreIf you're in Washington DC tonight (March 16) and want to see a cracking good documentary film on the dangers of natural gas drilling, then head on over to the Carnegie Institution for Science for a free screening of Gasland at 7 pm. The showing is part of the Environmental Film Festival held annually in DC.
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If your family got its water from your own well (and a lot of people do), what would you say to someone who wanted to pump a whole grab-bag of chemicals into the ground nearby, including some that are known to be toxic or to cause cancer? Just guessing here, but I suspect you’d send him on his way with a few choice words.
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A bill to establish federal oversight for a controversial oil and natural gas extraction technique called hydraulic fracturing has gained six more House supporters, four of them from New York City, where I testified Oct. 23 about the dangers of "fracing" near sources of drinking water for 8 million New Yorkers and 1 million New Jersey residents.
Read MoreDrilling for natural gas is a dirty business, as Enviroblog readers know. Dusty Horwitt, Environmental Working Group's Senior Counsel, has worked tirelessly to document the environmental depredations of a drilling technique called hydraulic fracturing.
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Dusty Horwitt, EWG senior counsel, testifies on gas drilling and fracking before the New York City Council Committee on Environmental Protection Oct. 23, 2009.
Read MoreDusty Horwitt, EWG senior counsel, testifies before the New York City Council Committee on Environmental Protection about potential hazards of fracking in New York state.
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