Changes

Hydraulic fracturing, a technique that has helped unlock vast new oil and natural gas supplies in the United States – and which has potential to do the same worldwide – has in this century become a contentious issue in which both proponents and opponents express strong views.

Hydraulic fracturing, a technique that has helped unlock vast new oil and natural gas supplies in the United States – and which has potential to do the same worldwide – has in this century become a contentious issue in which both proponents and opponents express strong views.

Proponents have said the use of hydraulic fracturing has resulted in historically high levels of recovered oil and gas, which has helped lower energy costs. Opposing arguments maintained hydraulic fracturing, most widely known by the colloquial term “fracking,” was dangerous to U.S. drinking water reservoirs.

Proponents have said the use of hydraulic fracturing has resulted in historically high levels of recovered oil and gas, which has helped lower energy costs. Opposing arguments maintained hydraulic fracturing, most widely known by the colloquial term “[[fracking]],” was dangerous to U.S. drinking water reservoirs.

Some resolution of the topic was achieved in June 2015, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a long-awaited report on the practice, concluding that’s its four-year study found no signs of “widespread, systemic” pollution that were linked to “fracking.”

Some resolution of the topic was achieved in June 2015, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a long-awaited report on the practice, concluding that’s its four-year study found no signs of “widespread, systemic” pollution that were linked to “fracking.”