The Dakota Access Pipeline

Environmental welfare has become one of our most important priorities since the widely-spread awareness of climate change. Recently, there has been a controversial subject arousing from the midwest that is allegedly threatening our environment - the construction of Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). This $3.8 billion, 1,172-mile pipeline project will be crossing four states from North Dakota through Illinois to supply crude oil coming from the oil-rich Bakken area (Yan). DAPL will supposedly create new jobs like construction and maintenance, lower gas prices as we do not have to rely exporting oil from overseas, and boost energy production in our country as we continue to consume more energy resources. However, induced with negative feelings from

Fracking, or the removal of natural gas from shale, has rapidly grown in popularity and is predicted to overcome coal as the nation’s top power source. Even though burning natural gas releases less carbon dioxide than coal or diesel, fracking releases methane into the atmosphere and the increase in storage accidents over the past few years support Emily Schwartz Greco’s claim on the dangers of fracking and the need for a change in public opinion over fracking.

A relatively new process for extracting desired shale oil from the bowels of the earth seems to be shaking things up around operation sites. Environmentalists and oil tycoons have been debating for years over the safety of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, since areas with a high concentration of fracking operations have been affected by several environmental problems. Though many scientists argue that correlation does not necessarily mean causation, the media and many environmentalists use these environmental problems around fracking sites as proof of the long term damage fracking causes. Although it has domesticated the oil industry and reduced usage of coal as a fuel source, fracking is undoubtedly related to many detrimental environmental impacts, such as water table pollution and increased seismic activity.

Within his first days in office, Donald Trump began the paperwork for the completion of one of the most controversial issues currently facing the United States. His executive actions have overthrown the efforts of Obama’s administration to discontinue construction. The Dakota pipeline, which will stretch 1,200 miles through four states, is “the safest and most environmentally sensitive way to transport crude oil from domestic wells to American consumers” (Dakota Access Pipeline Facts). On the contrary, this $3.8 billion project will add to the other eight pipelines in Lake Oahe and will almost double the price of oil.

The transition of power that is currently happening in American politics has brought an air of uncertainty, especially with regard to the environment. Specifically, an issue that has recently gained attention has been hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. In simple terms, fracking is a procedure where the ground is drilled with water and chemicals in order to obtain natural gas or oil. Fracking is the most important public health issue at this time because the change in power is bound to create more leniency on big business, especially those involved with gas and oil (Garber, 2017). The procedure has been controversial because on one end, people argue that fracking will make the United States energy self-dependent, will create jobs, and will be

The Dakota Access Pipeline has been the main focus of attention within the last year. To understand how and why this pipeline is at the heart of such heated debate, it is important to explain what the pipeline is for. The Dakota Access Pipeline is an underground pipe that is funded and paid for with TAXPAYERS MONEY and carries crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois. Crude oil is currently transported by way of railroads and trucks, which in recent times is noticeably becoming more problem some. The debate centers over how productive this pipeline will be and are the risks worth it. The suggested answer to this question is the benefits of this pipeline will not out way the risk. There are many factors that are given to support this point

Fracking or hydraulic fracturing is a mine stimulation technique that is taking the country by storm. It is a multi-billion dollar industry and in some parts of the country there are so many wells clustered together that they can be seen from space. The commodity being mined is natural gas. Natural gas has earned itself many new names depending on who is asked. According to big gas companies like Haiburton, it’s America’s solution to the energy crisis and a fuel for the 21st century. They claim this current period of economic and energy prosperity is due to increased fracking. However, this prosperity does not come without a cost. Many landowners, environmentalists, and scientists claim the process is poisoning the air, ground, water,

Oil fracking may seem to be a harmless uprising invention to the standard peer. However, when looking into the concerns and damaging effects from oil fracking, this invention may be more of an issue rather than a solution to retrieving oil. Scientists and researchers began to discover that oil fracking could lead to the release of dangerous chemicals that can be threatening to human life and the environment. CEO’s are also not providing sufficient information and warnings surrounding the oil fracking industry. Articles by Thompson, Perez-Pena, Christopherson, and Gerken, all express the concerns and supporting evidence of the damaging effects caused by oil fracking. Ultimately, fracking is a dangerous method to getting oil because the chemicals

fluid 8,000 feet into the ground to extract oil and natural gasses from shale plays. Although fracking has been around for nearly 60 years, the controversy surrounding it didn’t begin until approximately 2008, when oil and natural gas in the United States hit an all-time low. As a result, we depended heavily upon other countries like Saudi Arabia for our oil. The situation was less than ideal and the U.S. was seeking new ways to gain independence. On December 19, 2007 the Energy Independence and Security Act was signed into legislation thus, marking the beginning of the search for natural gas and oil in the United States otherwise known as the “Fracking

This is a briefing on the current situation involving the Dakota Access Pipeline controversy. The pipeline, spanning over 1,100 miles through North Dakota, Iowa, and parts of Illinois, is currently in the final phases of construction. The Dakota Access Pipeline, or DAPL, is estimated to cost $3.8 billion and will result in a functioning pipeline capable of carrying 450,000 barrels of crude oil per day. While there are strong arguments for the economic benefit to the region, there exists an opposition based on the value of the land being used. In addition, there is similar concern among groups whose nearby land could be affected by the construction of the pipeline. Among the most vocal of oppositions lies the Standing Rock Sioux reservation

However, fracking fluid is not the only questionable aspect of fracking, included is land and infrastructure degradation, physiological harm to local citizens, utilization of legislation loopholes, and the secrecy of fracking fluid formulas within the industry. Nonetheless, the negative attributes of fracking, such as fracking fluid dispersal and other environmental issues are outweighed by the vast economic gains and can be mitigated by a system of regulations and development of new technologies for the industry. The fracking industry will only increase in size, so much so that reclamation of shale gas is called “eminent shale gas revolution. British Petroleum [BP], for instance, expects global shale gas production to grow six-fold from 2011 to 2030. Shale gas production in the United States already accounts for roughly 30 percent of the nationwide total a growth rate up from only 4 percent in 2005” (Sovacool, 251). It has also been estimated that more than “80 percent of the natural gas wells developed in the United States over the next ten years are expected to require fracking and it is projected that by 2035 natural gas wells will represent more than a 75 percent share of the domestic supply” (Bleiwas, 68).

Hydraulic fracturing is a process used in nine out of 10 natural gas wells in the United States, where millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals are pumped underground to break apart the rock and release the gas. Scientists are worried that the chemicals used in fracturing may pose a threat either underground or when waste fluids are handled and sometimes spilled on the surface. The natural gas industry defends hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking, as safe and efficient. Thomas J. Pyle, president of the Institute for Energy Research, a pro-industry non-profit organization, claims fracking has been “a widely deployed as safe extraction technique,” dating back to 1949. What he doesn’t say is that until recently energy

Hydraulic Fracking is a drilling method developed for the extraction of energy resources buried beneath shale formations located deep below the Earth’s surface. The practice of vertical drilling has been safely performed for more than 50 years, but the recent development of horizontal drilling has exposed the practice to harsh scrutinization. Vertical drilling inserts pipe directly into the shale formations allowing for limited access to pockets of methane. The last 10 to 15 years has brought about the development of horizontal drilling, which allows drilling to be conducted with greater economic benefit. The process splinters shale formations horizontally, allowing the escape of larger amounts of methane. The methane travels through fractures and eventually is stored for transport. Proponents of hydraulic fracking contend the practice is safe, provides jobs, and is healthier for the environment than fossil fuels. Opponents postulate the practice pollutes the water table, is a health risk, is a viable danger to the climate, and causes earthquakes. The

Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" as it’s commonly called, is a drilling technique utilized for extracting natural gas or oil within deep underground. The process generally combines hazardous chemicals with abundant amounts of water at high rates of pressure into rock formations to crack nearby material to extract gas and oil. Prompted environmental concerns have arose due to the substantial use of fracking in the US, which has modernized the energy industry. Although hydraulic fracturing can be beneficial, it is harmful to our planet because of the gases and chemicals it releases that causes contamination of water, air pollution, and hazards to communities and its people health.

The term, “fracking,” has existed for nearly a half century and has always had the negative connotation of being unclean and associated with many environmental issues and adverse health effects. The massive oil