Hydraulic fracturing for natural gas extraction: Impacts on water resources. An interview with Penn State Water Quality Specialist Bryan Swistock.
Hydraulic fracturing is a controversial method currently in use to extract methane gas from the Marcellus and Utica shale deposits. Concerns have been raised about the impacts of hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" on water quality and quantity. On April 13 Joe Bonnell interviewed Bryan Swistock, Water Quality Specialist for Penn State Cooperative Extension. Bryan has been conducting educational programs about the impacts of fracking on water for the past four years. In this interview, Bryan provides an overview of these impacts and recommendations for landowners and water quality advocates in Ohio based on the Pennsylvania experience.
For more information
Bryan Swistock's webpage: http://extension.psu.edu/directory/brs
Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research: http://marcellus.psu.edu/
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's webpage on drilling for gas in the Marcellus and Utica shales: http://www.epa.state.oh.us/shale.aspx
Ohio Department of Natural Resources has created a list of web resources on oil/natural gas and shale development: http://www.ohiodnr.com/oil/shale/shalewebresources/tabid/23284/Default.aspx