Marcellus shale gas comes from the Marcellus stratum, the most radioactive stratum in the ground. The waste water and cuttings from these operations are laced with chemicals and radioactive elements, which must then be dumped or injected underground because they are SO hazardous.

Yet, because of the “Halliburton Loophole,” they are unregulated and not required to be placarded. The injection of fluids has been known to communicate with unknown (or known) fault lines and stimulate seismic activity. This is why Youngstown, OH and other places recenty have had so many earthquakes so suddenly, when they had very few or NONE before. A Duke University study where information was gathered between 2010 and 2012 found that fracking wastewater elevated radioactivity in Pennsylvania river water.

Guess who is downstream of that? Yep. West Virginia. Other studies show endocrine and hormone disruption from exposure to fracking chemicals. Both intentional dumping by third-party contractors and accidental leaks or spills have poisoned with water on both public and private lands. There are not enough inspectors to keep watch on all this activity, so it is impossible to monitor.

The sad truth is, fracking, even under the best conditions, will never be safe. It is inherently unsafe. Even if it were, methane leaks are having a much more devastating effect on the global climate than CO2 for the near future (20-100 years).

Why do this to the planet when renewables are now within reach? There is no other answer but greed. It is time to turn the tides and do something different. There is not much time left. How will we explain the devastation to our children and grandchildren? Why would we want to?