June 13th, 2012

Today we took a hike along the Niagara River.  

At some points, the rapids long the river were incredibly strong. On our hike we discussed hydro electricity. In the 19th century, discovery of the river’s enormous potential as a source of hydro electric power lead to significant water diversions. Today, anywhere from fifty to seventy-five percent of the flow is diverted for hydro generation. With this, came a significant jump in industrialization and also environmental degradation.(http://www.epa.gov/solec/solec_2008/2/6_Niagaranotes.pdf)
*IS THIS RIGHT^*

 Rapids along the Niagara River.

Along our hike, we noted the extremely crystal clear, blue color of the River. This can be attributed to low pH levels, probably due to the amount of industrialization in the area. The river has a pH level of 5.5, and it should be around 8 or 9. 

My classmate Avery and our professor Tait hanging by the Niagara River.



After our hike, we checked in to a hotel in Albany. Yes, that's right, a hotel. There were beds, a coffee machine, and even a pool. We were in heaven. That night we watched athe documentary called Gasland. The film pertained to hydraulic fracking and the environmental impacts it has. America is referred to as the Saudi Arabia of natural gas. How do we obtain all this fortune we are sitting on top of? We frack.

 Fracking is conducted by pumping 596 different chemicals into the ground, causing natural gas to be released and then captured. Given the abundance of it, fracking for natural gas in the U.S. has significantly increased. People who live on or own land with natural gas beneath it are being offered large sums of money in order to have fracking done on their land. Unfortunately, fracking has become a suspected cause of water contamination. Soon after drilling would start on someone's property, the water would become contaminated and the people/animals drinking it started to get sick. People effected by this feel it is only fair that the companies conducting the fracking be accountable for what is happening to them. Unfortunately, the companies conducting the fracking are exempt from the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. This means they are not required to disclose what chemicals they use in the tracking process. Therefore, people with contaminated water cannot prove fracking is the cause of their water contamination. 

Through out the documentary, politicians and natural gas company employees are questioned about fracking and its environmental impact. In almost every interview, the politician was acting nervous and untruthful. They avoided questions and refrained from giving sincere answers. This only makes them look shady and as if they have something to hide from the public. We learn through out the film that the workers and foreman of the sites are not really educated on what they're doing. This leads to them not being as cautious as they should be which results in complications through out the process. Fracking also requires a lot of truck transportation, resulting in air pollution as well. Also, 1-8 million gallons of water may be used to frack a well, and a well may be fracked up to 18 times. Through out the process of fracking, "produced water" is created. This is the water that was used through out the process and has since become contaminated. The storage of this water is in a retention space, lined in order to keep it from leaking. How successful these liners are is questionable.

Watching this documentary certainly made me question how safe and environmentally sound fracking is. It seems as though extracting natural gas could be of good use. However, the untruthfulness of natural gas companies makes me hesitant. Also, workers at fracking wells being under educated on their duties is a worry. This makes me curious to see how safe fracking would be if carried out with more caution and accuracy. Having the United States not reliant on foreign countries  oil is very important, and natural gas could be the answer. I believe with further experience and research fracking could become a safer project.