Month: December 2014
Fracking in Russia could cool political climates
Unpopular European Fracking Could Provide Independence From Russia
http://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/Unpopular-European-Fracking-Could-Provide-Independence-From-Russia.html September 7th, 2014
Hydraulic Fracturing, though profitable, has more than one negative effect on the environment. In addition to polluting water and soil deposits, fracking can also instigate earthquakes. The Chinese have been doing everything that they can do join the shale gas revolution, including drilling on China’s earthquake hot bed. The hot bed is located in the Sichuan region, where in 2008, 70,000 people died in a tragic earthquake. China hopes to boost annual shale production to 6.5 billion cubic meters before 2015. Additionally, Europes largest oil company has announced their plan to invest $1 billion per year in the Chinese shale gas industry.
Drilling in the mountains where Asia and India meet, could definitely increase the number of tremors in the highly-sensitive area. Earthquakes are somewhat common in Mainland China and hydraulic fracturing will only make it worse. Is it a multi-billion dollar industry, but is it worth jeopardizing the welfare of the Chinese people and the environment. China is already in an extremely hazardous levels in the air and water.
Fracking moves to the East
U.S. fracking giant goes to China
http://business.financialpost.com/2014/06/11/u-s-fracking-giant-goes-to-china/?__lsa=05a5-2a5a June 11, 2014
Some say that the United States has undergone a “shale revolution.” America has the most state-of-the-art fracking technology in the world and it is now being taken to China. China has very vast shale deposits. Last June, it was announced that a joint venture between Sinopec and FTS International are going to be the main fracking firms. This is the first time that a specialized hydraulic fracturing corporation from the United States has entered the Chinese market. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, China possesses the largest “technically recoverable shale resources in the world.”
This is an important topic and it is related to environmental science because China has the largest shale deposits in the world and it will possibly benefit Chinas economy but damage their environment. They are apparently has enough resources to facilitate the fracking but is it worth it given the negative effect to the environment. There are many endangered species in China, pollution is a huge issue and overpopulation is a whole other story. Fracking in China will deteriorate the habitats of many animals and contribute to the pollution problem.
Our Energy must be Independent
Seeking Energy Independence, Europe Faces Heated Fracking Debate
http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/03/07/286816548/seeking-energy-independence-europe-faces-heated-fracking-debate March 7, 2014.
Fracking is a topic of wide debate in Europe, especially as the turmoil in the Ukraine unfolds. Many countries in Europe depend on natural gas pipelines that flow through the Ukraine. Several countries are debating whether to drill for shale gas, as the United States has been doing for some years now. In Lancashire, England there have been mass protests against shale gas. These groups have been distributing pamphlets and holding public meetings about the subject even before the discord in Ukraine took place.
This subject is related to environmental science because if these countries in Europe decide to pursue fracking efforts, there may be a significant deterioration of the environment. Even when done successfully, hydraulic fracturing poses several threats to the surrounding areas. The most controversial is that chemicals from the process can leak into drinking water reservoirs or poison habitats. Many chemicals are involved in the process and people are also concerned about the competitiveness of the European countries.
Fracking in China
U.S. takes a crack at China’s tough shale
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/U-S-fracturing-takes-a-crack-at-China-s-tough-5691345.php#/0 August 16, 2014
It seems that the rest of the world will soon catch up with the U.S., as more and more nations seek to copy American success in the natural gas and oil development. Poland is taking the lead in Europe, producing mass amounts of shale gas through the process of hydraulic fracturing. The largest producer of natural gas in South America is Argentina and they plan on adopting American methods of fracking, “the use of water, sand and chemicals to bread underground shale formations and release fuel.”
Many specialized hydraulic fracturing corporations from the United States have entered the Chinese market. There must be more policies against fracking and we must ban it in specific areas. Drilling in the mountains where Asia and India meet, could definitely increase the number of tremors in the highly-sensitive area. Even through fracking has negative effects on the environment, it is very profitable and therefore popular.
While this process still takes a toll on the environment, it has caused several economic revivals in areas around the U.S. Even Saudi Arabia is going to reexamine their methods and implement American oil production practices. Even when done successfully, hydraulic fracturing poses several threats to the surrounding areas.
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Peterson, C. (2014, November 28). Wyoming protects unused water for fisheries. Retrieved December 1, 2014, from http://trib.com/lifestyles/recreation/wyoming-protects-unused-water-for-fisheries/article_c97e3994-ad0d-5a4c-b423-6baf3ece3fb5.html
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Long ago, the idea of leaving water in a stream for fish sounded crazy but now they need to. The fish are started to become effected by it. The Wyoming game and fish department argues that all they want is some water set aside for the fish that won’t be used for irrigation or drinking water. On the other hand the west coast is in a drought so farmers are worried that they won’t have enough water to farm. The government is now starting to set aside some water but is making sure that it won’t affect the farmer’s crops.
The farmers need to stop arguing if they have enough water. The only reason the fish and game department is trying to get the water is because they are worried that in the future there won’t be enough for the fish to survive and then there will be another fish extinct or at least endangered. There also aren’t that many people in Wyoming (only around ½ million) considering places like Colorado has around 5 million so there is still plenty of water to tap into if worse comes to worse. These fish are a part of a delicate ecosystem that shouldn’t be put in jeopardy.
- Pitt, J. (n.d.). With rivers tapped out, Western cities turn to farmers’ water rights. Retrieved December 1, 2014, from
http://www.edf.org/blog/2014/11/11/rivers-tapped-out-western-cities-turn-farmers-water-rights
- Farmers in Colorado are buying land just for the water to be able to keep their crops alive. Since the west is in a major drought these farmers are pushed to do anything they can. The reason the water is being taken away from these farmers is expanding cities need to use it. Since the priority is humans the government feels the need to give them all the water they want. With the Buy and Dry technique the farmers just use the land for water so other parts of the land start to deteriorate. Weeds start to grow and the land becomes unusable to future farmers who want to grow there.
There can be some alternatives that will help these farmers and the growing populations in nearby towns. Firstly if we just improve the irrigation infrastructure and make it more efficient then we can save water and give more to the farmers who need it. Secondly we should invest in more agricultural efficiency. This would mean that farmers would get a better education and understanding of how to farm bigger and better but keep the environment healthy and use less water. These need to be integrated into Colorado’s farming system soon because if they keep destroying the land just for water they won’t be able to grow crops soon enough.
- Walker, S. (2014, November 3). Florida governor: U.S. Supreme Court to take up ‘Water Wars’ case against Georgia. Retrieved December 1, 2014, from
http://www.al.com/news/beaches/index.ssf/2014/11/florida_governor_us_supreme_co.html
- For some time now Florida has been losing their oysters due to the high sodium levels in their bay. This is causing the oysters to die and the fish industry to plummet. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has declared a fishery disaster in which they might need to shut the whole area down for safety. Georgia argues that this water is needed to be used by humans first then the oysters. Many Floridians want to fight for the future of these oysters because it is their livelihood. If there are not any oysters then the state will see a huge economic downfall.
The government needs to come up with a balance otherwise both parties will keep fighting with each other. If the water could somehow be regulated more closely with systems that could give the correct amounts of water to each party then they won’t have to play victim of not having enough water. The EPA also needs to intervene to make sure that the oysters are being taken care of and not become endangered.
- Barker, R. (2014, November 17). Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell news by Idaho Statesman. Retrieved December 1, 2014, from
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/11/17/3490960/idahos-water-rights-pact-looks.html
Since 2001 the Idaho government has been disagreeing with the nez pierce tribe over water most predominantly the Snake River. The farmers argue that they need the water to feed their crops and that livestock that they have. The Nez Pierce think that since it’s their land they can do whatever they want with it. At first the government wanted to preserve the water and the endangered fish so they sacrificed around 30million dollars of farming. Then the economy went down so the government decided to give water to the farmers which in turn started killing the salmon again. This pattern has continued with issues directed at possibly losing all of its water to tribes again.This pattern of water rights throughout the country needs to be settled because we have bigger topics to focus on. Rather than fighting who gets the water we need to see how much water we have left and what we are going to do about it. There are so many crops and economies that are dying and going down that we have completely ignored because we are fighting over the water. The government needs to firstly just control the water for now because we are in a huge drought. Secondly they should have the tribes input and communication with them to let them know how they will be using the water. Thirdly they need to make sure the environment isn’t being damaged in the process.
Interstate Stream Commission decides to divert the Gila River
Interstate Stream Commission decides to divert the Gila River. (2014, November 24). Retrieved December 1, 2014, from http://www.scsun-news.com/silver_city-news/ci_27005125?source=rss
Over the course of the past 10 years or so there has been much controversy over a stream that has run through a valuable piece of land. Conversationalists think that continuing with this project will destroy the land and not be able to get that much water at all. Many other people disagree. They think that getting this water will help with 14000 more acres of water and help save the dry southern part of Arizona. This decision is important because if not made will affect the state largely. New Mexico already has trouble receiving water and now they have to deal with this.
I think that the end decision, to use the water, will be beneficial to the whole state. The benefit outweighs the cost greatly and not going through with this project is dumb. The fact that people want to save only a little bit of land at the cost of a whole population is terrible. When the lives of people are in danger they completely trump land. The water is needed to grow crops, keep people alive and feed other organisms in the area that largely depend on this water that they are trying to take away.