Spokane7
55°
January 14, 2012 in Opinion, Letters
Frack attack erroneous
I cannot let stand the inaccurate comments from Rusty Nelson (Jan. 3) on fracing (pronounced fracking). Fracing is the relatively new procedure that allows the collection of natural gas where it was previously not possible. Based on Nelson’s comments, I assume he has watched the documentary “Gasland,” which has the same false assertions.
Both assert that fracing has caused drinking water to be flammable. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) tested the flammable water and found the natural gas was from “biogenic sources” and not from the fracing. It is easy to tell because biogenic natural gas (think decaying organic matter) does not have larger hydrocarbons like the propane or natural gas from fracing does.
In fact, the “Gasland” claims that are the same as Nelson’s were found to be so false that the COGCC, which is a division of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, published the “Gasland Correction Document.” The interested reader could find further information on their website.
Nelson also insinuates that fracing is exempt from the onerous regulations that other industries enjoy. That is also false. Far from being the “crime against the 99 percent and the Earth itself,” fracing is environmentally safe.
Todd Bischoff
Spokane Valley
MAC firing begs explanation 
rosehips on January 14 at 7:56 a.m.
Environmentally safe? Who are you Todd? Why should we believe you?
Maybe the flames are due to chemical contamination from the brine that due to proprietary information we don’t even know what’s in it.
Follow the events in Dimock, PA. Ask those folks if it’s environmentally safe.
What about earthquake damage, Todd? How can you call that safe?
You are nothing but a shill for the gas industry.
WillyPeter on January 14 at 8:28 a.m.
T. Boone Pickens said that fracing is safe.
Ted Turner, ardent environmentalist, sitting at the table with him said, “If T. Boone says it’s safe, you can take that to the bank!”
schleufer on January 14 at 8:59 a.m.
i been following this site for over 10 years. http://www.ienearth.org/ its not only fracking its the keystone pipeline we need to be concerned about. BP is involved with the tar sands. http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/globalbp/STAGING/global_assets/downloads/B/BP_Oil_Sands_Presentation_08022010.pdf now you can sleep better at nite knowing that.
8ball on January 14 at 9:11 a.m.
Even the EPA said recently that Fracking pollutes ground water. I do not think you would agree that Fracking is environmentally safe if you saw the list of hundreds of toxins that are pumped into the ground. There is recent legislation in Colorado and Texas to have full disclosure of these chemicals.
Some Governors endorse Fracking so fully, that any political state commission finding should be suspect.
Do you think it is a coincidence that rural folks household water is fine for decades, but after the installation of a derrick and commencement of Fracking—they can light their tap water on fire?
Harvesting resources has to be balanced with sane environmental policies.
rosehips on January 14 at 11:55 a.m.
T Boone Pickens and Ted Turner are two old men whose brains peaked decades ago.
And you can take that to the bank.
Arch_Druid on January 14 at 6:42 p.m.
I don’t typically get involved with environmental issues. However, when a news cameraman can witness tap water light on fire, there is nothing “safe” about fracking. Sorry dude.