Hydraulic fracturing, also known as hydrofracking, involves injecting sand, water and chemicals into drilled wells at high pressure to extract natural gas from shale rock formations deep underground. While hydrofracking may increase the domestic supply of natural gas, it can contaminate drinking water sources if the fracking fluids and methane gas leak into the groundwater. Local officials are concerned about potential hydrofracking in their region contaminating the watershed that supplies drinking water to over 9 million people. The mayor of Little Falls, NY opposes hydrofracking in his city in order to protect the "sacred" watershed as the region prepares for possible natural gas drilling.

1. Frack
David Schook
Environmental Science
December 2, 2011

2. Hydraulic Fracturing also
known as “hydrofracking”
involves shooting a mixture
of sand, water and other
chemicals at high pressure
down and horizontally into
drilled wells as far as
10,000 feet below the
surface to force natural gas
out of rocks and into the
wells.
http://www.question-
everything.org/2010/12/what
-is-hydrofracking/

3. Positives
•Natural gas is a
cleaner burning fossil
fuel.
•Can obtain
domestically rather
than internationally.
•Boost our economy
and create jobs.
Negatives
•Chemicals are added for drilling.
•These chemicals effect drinking water
which then the water is contaminated.
http://www.thinkbefore •Hydrofracking releases methane into
youfrack.org/about- the atmosphere which is the leader of
hydrofracking/ greenhouse gases causing harm to the
environment and our health.

4. Although hydrofracking could be good for our economy it is
still too harmful to our health. Over 200 chemicals can be
used in the hydrofracking process and are potentially
dangerous. Some of these chemicals include:
and
With so much water and so many toxic
chemicals used in hydrofracking,
many NYC leaders and environmentalists fear
contamination of the
watershed that supplies pure unfiltered
drinking water to more than 9 million
residents of NYC and neighboring counties
–half the population of NY State.
http://www.question-everything.org/2010/12/what-is-hydrofracking/

5. •Toxic fluids are escaping into •Air pollution is an issue due to
watershed and contaminating the onsite operations, evaporation pits
water which our wildlife is exposed and to the emissions of the diesel
to. trucks coming and going carrying
materials, water and wastes.
•Noise pollution is another issue from the
initial month of drilling the well
to the continuous noise generated by
operation of compressor stations.
http://www.nexxite.com/EV/HydrofrackingfactsheetFINAL4.pdf

6. After sitting in on a local common council meeting about the concern of
hydrofracking the city of Little Falls mayor Roger Peters is against the
idea stating, “The watershed is sacred land and should be protected as
such.” He is aware of local gas companies possibly thinking about
drilling in the Herkimer County area, but is a practice he does not want
to see employed in the area. Mayor Peters also stated at the meeting
how a company can not just move into the city and give us
contaminated water to treat. He concluded the meeting with the
comment of “With the possibility of drilling for natural gas to occur
here in Herkimer County, we need to be ready for it.”
Common Council Meeting Attended
Speaker: Roger Peters: Mayor of Little
Falls on November 3rd at 7:00p.m.
Contact info:

7. •Contact local officials including: governor,
legislators and other officials. Write a
letter telling them how you feel about
hydrofracking and how they should pass
laws prohibiting or regulating hydraulic
fracturing and most important tell them
you want clean safe water to drink!
•Spread the word! Tell
everybody about hydrofracking!
Tell everyone you know to do
whatever they can to keep our
water safe.

8. Websites:
http://www.nexxite.com/EV/Hydrofracki
ngfactsheetFINAL4.pdf
http://www.question-
everything.org/2010/12/what-is-
hydrofracking/
http://www.thinkbeforeyoufrack.org/abo
ut-hydrofracking/
Interview:
Roger Peters: Little Falls
City Mayor
Contact info: 315-823-2400