By Theodora Filis Responding to an investigative article published by The New York Times, on February 26, 2011, on the high incidence of radioactive materials and other contaminants in the wastes produced from natural gas extraction, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) questioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its oversight of these extractive practices. The New York Times found that upon completion of drilling, gas companies dispose of the used hydraulic fracturing water at municipal wastewater plants that are incapable of filtering the naturally existing radioactive substances that are dug up and mixed in with fracturing water in the drilling process. The end result is waste-water plants releasing treated water into rivers and other waterways that are public sources of drinking water as well as fish that are used for food. “ These disturbing revelations raise the prospect that natural gas production has turned our rivers and streams into this generation’s ‘Love Canals,
It is imperative we all pay attention to the impact of our collective and personal actions on the environment. During the next decade, our global community will be unable to deal effectively with the formidable environmental challenges posed by decades of environmental mismanagement. There are many environmental issues I write about in this blog, some will scare you, and it is my hope, these articles will give you a reason to question and search for answers.