2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Ripples of Hope [View all]RoccoR5955
(12,471 posts)When there were Department of Environmental Conservation hearings all over NY state, they asked for comments. I attended two meetings, and put forth the observation that it was geologically impossible to contain the fracking fluid to within the formation of rocks that were being fracked for gas. Some of it escapes into the water table because of faults that are both created in the existing formation, and existing faults in other formations above the drilling site. These other faults, though many are mapped, are impossible to map the entirety of them. As water always seeks a level, and is poorly contained when under pressure in these circumstances, it shall work its way up to the overlying ground water table. That is where much of our drinking water is found. When water that is infused with these unknown fracking fluids enters that water table, the drinking water is then permanently contaminated.
The retort from the drilling companies is that they use a doubly encased drill bore, encased in concrete all the way down to the fracking area. I assured them that this is insufficient, because this only protects the bore, but does nothing to protect from seepage through these unknown faults in overlying formations.
New York State eventually banned fracking.
I do not know if my statement made any difference, but I feel that it should have. Ask any geologist.