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Documentary tackles controversy over fracking for gas

thestar.com -- Many questions have been asked about fracking since the technology for extracting natural gas has grown in profile.

What does it do to the air? Is too much water being used? What are the health effects on people living around the wells?

“No one really knew,” says Leif Kaldor. So the Regina-based documentary filmmaker decided to take a close look at fracking — the relatively new but controversial technique of extracting natural gas from deep underground.

The 15-month expedition took him and his team to the heart of the fracking industry, in Colorado and Texas in the U.S., and in B.C. and Alberta in Canada.

The result is Shattered Ground, an hour-long documentary that explores the issues around it and explains why we should fret about fracking.

Fracking involves injecting mil

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Submitted Feb 07, 2013 By: teafortwo

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teenitup Champion Author Houston Posts:1,609 Points:246,910 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 1:16:35 PM Ignore teenitup Report Abuse Only pointing out that I think NHLiveFree is confused.
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,595 Points:1,202,085 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 12:24:49 AM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse The reality here is clean water. I am, along with many others are protecting our Grandchildren from a desert like existence. You might be concerned when you find out how many crops across the US which are dependent upon irrigation...not grey water, but pure water. Without the crops, and without good wells we are doomed.
teenitup Champion Author Houston Posts:1,609 Points:246,910 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 6:02:37 PM Ignore teenitup Report Abuse In reality NHLiveFree I only posted a link to what the studies actually found, I don't quite understand your anger. You may want to check on that claim of the Clean Water Act exemption. Wrong Act.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,070 Points:1,619,180 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 1:32:13 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse I simply much prefer pure water that is not jeopardized by anyone stude.. If that is an "agenda", so be it. I note you don't mind and of the many other "disparaging" comments on this real news article that villify anyone that prefers clean water, clean air, and a healthy environment. Now they idiotically claim that all regulations, standards, and requirements are a 'global' socialist plot. Isn't this amazingly similar to the Senator Joe McCarthy era Commie plots? You display an obvious bias for the Big Oil shills here stude... [Edited by: NHLiveFree at 2/8/2013 1:33:46 PM EST]
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,070 Points:1,619,180 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 1:18:17 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse No thanks for your dellusional API and oil shill point of view teenie. more from the news article: "An average well takes four million to eight million gallons of water to drill in and frack. There can be up to 20 wells on a single pad that is spread over an acre. For multi-well operations in northeast B.C., millions of gallons of water are being pumped from Elk Lake just outside Victoria. One fracking operation in northern B.C., needed so much water that they built a pipeline from Wolliston Lake, the province’s biggest freshwater reserve. Parfitt says the water used is typically fresh water which then becomes toxic and cannot be returned to the hydrological cycle. Last year was the biggest drought in the U.S. in a decade, says Kaldor. “Not knowing where we will be with the water situation in 10 years and to waste water like this … it’s just very troubling.” The overall message of Shattered Ground is that there are lots of unanswered questions, Kaldor says. “If we are taking decisions that will affect our future, then we should look for answers first.” Shattered Ground airs on CBC on Thursday at 8 p.m. EST" Astonishing as to how much pure water is used and then dumped or even injected into the ground as contaminated waste water that will never be used again. The drillers should be required to, at the least, clean and purify this wastewater so there is never the possibility that it may contaminate either ground water or our precious aquifers. There is only one chance to do it the right way. Unfortunately the drilling industry has shown it's contempt for the general public and will only do it by the most expeditious and cheapest means. At this rate pure water shall cost $10 or $20 per gallon in the polluted future. This industries' lobbied exemption from the U.S. Clean Water Act should be removed now!
teenitup Champion Author Houston Posts:1,609 Points:246,910 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 9:09:20 AM Ignore teenitup Report Abuse Strange there's no mention of the fact that investigations into these events found that fracking was not responsible. Take Dish, Tx for example: The investigation also noted that many of the ailments cited by Mayor Tillman - residents with headaches, respiratory problems, itchy and watery eyes and other allergy-type symptoms are non-specific concerns with multiple possible causes. The conclusions drawn by the State Health Department show that the levels of VOCs in the blood and urine of DISH residents were consistent with the general US population. The exposure of the DISH residents was no different than those of people living in other parts of the US. The small number of elevated levels were most likely caused by exposure to cigarette smoking, exposure to the by-products of the disinfectant used in the public drinking water supply and exposure to home maintenance products. The information obtained does not indicate a community- wide problem from the activities of the natural gas drilling activities.
studebaker1940 Champion Author Tampa Posts:2,495 Points:683,630 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 8:37:14 AM Ignore studebaker1940 Report Abuse NHLivefree do you believe that you make your point more valid by making disparaging remarks about someone's differing opinion. Burt could do the same about your one sided study. Scientist who go into research with a pre-planned conclusion usually get skewed results. I am not in a position to know who is correct. Each side has an agenda to push and wants "proof" supporting their fore-drawn conclusions.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,070 Points:1,619,180 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 12:18:20 AM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Truly delusional comments BurtB. Are you Mitt's LaJolla house/estate manager?
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,070 Points:1,619,180 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 8, 2013 12:13:16 AM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse The veil is slowly being peeled away from this secretive and defensive industry. Thanks for some very revealing and troublesome new information on this process!!! " Kaldor and his crew visited Dish, Texas, where the first operations started in 2005. The mayor, Calvin Tillman, saw the town change forever as wells were put up next to schools and daycare centres. Tillman told Kaldor that an odour soon came from the fracking compressing stations. The town commissioned and paid for an air study. It discovered carbon disulfide, a neurotoxin that causes irreversible brain damage, he said. It was a similar story in Erie, Colo. A group of mothers realized their kids had the same kind of food allergies and intestinal problems. As they rallied together to fight wells near schools and residential areas, a study by the Colorado School of Public Health found concentrations of chemicals known to cause cancer and neurological damage within a kilometre of shale gas wells. In Canada, shale gas wells are in B.C. and Alberta but not too close to habitation. New Brunswick is assessing the technique, as is Ontario. Quebec has taken a dim view of this new technology. “The biggest issue for me is, can we afford the water that is being pumped in,” says Ben Parfitt of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives in Victoria, B.C. “Once water is gone, it’s gone for ever.” An average well takes four million to eight million gallons of water to drill in and frack. There can be up to 20 wells on a single pad that is spread over an acre."
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,595 Points:1,202,085 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 10:51:06 PM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse A really great article T42...thank you for posting. Did you notice that some of the usual frothing at the mouth frackers are missing? Daddy always said, 'No guts, no glory!' [Edited by: LetemEatCake at 2/7/2013 10:51:32 PM EST]
dangnad All-Star Author Las Vegas Posts:864 Points:474,355 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 7:12:16 PM Ignore dangnad Report Abuse The fracking Koch Brothers tried to buy the US election to get a fulltime fracking supporter, Romnoid, into office. Failed, just like Sheldon Adelson. Check out Pennsylvania in the next few years and see if you put down the "greenies" like you do now.
Mr.Dirt Champion Author Albany Posts:8,351 Points:2,508,625 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 6:57:14 PM Ignore Mr.Dirt Report Abuse some one should know by now we have spent a lot of money to find out so what is the problem
LostAgain2009 Champion Author New Mexico Posts:2,390 Points:709,675 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 6:51:57 PM Ignore LostAgain2009 Report Abuse Most of the articles and studies I have seen previously focused just on water. I think the presence of CS2 and other neurological/carcinogenic chemicals near the wells is just as telling.
Cableman66 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:2,100 Points:487,995 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 6:48:31 PM Ignore Cableman66 Report Abuse We keep seeing documentary films and other articles giving different opinions. Who is to believe who that is the question. As always time will tell.
NightRider Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,383 Points:75,395 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 6:40:38 PM Ignore NightRider Report Abuse They don't care about water quality. The next "big oil" is "big water". The price of bottled water is 250 to 10,000 times more than tap water. It will be worth a whole lot more than oil is worth now.
shea33 Champion Author Pensacola Posts:2,348 Points:539,690 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 6:38:32 PM Ignore shea33 Report Abuse Is it Michael Moore produced?
ChuckGVT Champion Author Vermont Posts:6,688 Points:1,690,500 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 6:37:12 PM Ignore ChuckGVT Report Abuse Just another greenie lie to destroy this country.
TBRR Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:3,662 Points:598,170 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 6:36:55 PM Ignore TBRR Report Abuse first off the oversupply of NG will just cause a price increase in the name of higher profits.
merlinMalo Champion Author San Antonio Posts:1,194 Points:533,085 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 6:36:31 PM Ignore merlinMalo Report Abuse OK
mplato Champion Author Columbia Posts:8,234 Points:1,812,245 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 6:35:55 PM Ignore mplato Report Abuse controversy only from greenies
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,054 Points:1,444,325 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 6:27:46 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse SkooterG: Something tells me that history will not be kind to fracking. We as human beings seem to be very short-sighted and don't really worry about long term consequences of things we do. The short-sightedness comes from profit making at the expense of all else. Anytime a corporation has claimed to do things absolutely safely, you know they're lying. Love Canal.
thomas41546 Champion Author Tennessee Posts:3,742 Points:2,254,685 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 6:26:21 PM Ignore thomas41546 Report Abuse not if but when
gasoutherneagle Champion Author Georgia Posts:2,249 Points:737,410 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 4:25:14 PM Ignore gasoutherneagle Report Abuse Until something bad actually happens, it will continue until a negative situation occurs!
cricket48750 All-Star Author Michigan Posts:787 Points:410,555 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 3:25:51 PM Ignore cricket48750 Report Abuse SkooterG is absolutely right!
snappytom2 Champion Author Corpus Christi Posts:3,535 Points:274,075 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 3:18:50 PM Ignore snappytom2 Report Abuse Time will tell.
oas Champion Author Maryland Posts:4,210 Points:2,137,415 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:48:35 PM Ignore oas Report Abuse But is it a balanced assessment?
SkooterG Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,359 Points:327,835 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:41:53 PM Ignore SkooterG Report Abuse Something tells me that history will not be kind to fracking. We as human beings seem to be very short-sighted and don't really worry about long term consequences of things we do.
dollarwatcher Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:7,930 Points:1,532,295 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:36:03 PM Ignore dollarwatcher Report Abuse Some say yes while others say no. Who to believe?
OOXXFF Champion Author Greensboro Posts:3,043 Points:1,075,505 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:31:38 PM Ignore OOXXFF Report Abuse Fracking may be dangerous.
mageetp Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,195 Points:622,955 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:31:07 PM Ignore mageetp Report Abuse Sure would be nice to know if this method is safe or not, I am not convinced so far that it is safe.
mikesr100 Champion Author Sacramento Posts:3,878 Points:1,077,810 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:20:43 PM Ignore mikesr100 Report Abuse What logic? So when I drink a bottle of water it is gone forever? We must ban drinking water?! What idiots! Mother Nature cleans and recycles water and has been doing for billions of years without our help!
falcons Champion Author North Dakota Posts:10,774 Points:2,367,380 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:18:12 PM Ignore falcons Report Abuse YIKES!
TimTim All-Star Author Vancouver Posts:553 Points:1,441,725 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:18:05 PM Ignore TimTim Report Abuse good post.
indrix All-Star Author Toronto Posts:582 Points:161,790 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:17:59 PM Ignore indrix Report Abuse What about lower gas prices?
pinofl Veteran Author Miami Posts:364 Points:70,120 Joined:Dec 2012	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:15:11 PM Ignore pinofl Report Abuse bad
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:32,931 Points:2,342,585 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:14:30 PM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Documentary tackles controversy over fracking for gas? More fracking and possible pollution to the underground water resources and surface well water with flammable vapors? Big Oil and Big Gas sells fuel and natural gas on the world market for higher prices through the Gulf Coast refineries. The US ‘oil and natural gas resources’ belong to the citizens of this country and are to be used by those same citizens! These resources are Not to be exported without taking care of the domestic market first. As more and more vehicles are converted to natural gas the price of natural gas will go up and up, natural gas will Not have a reasonable price for very long. Keep natural gas for heating homes and businesses. Drive vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high!
goinwgas All-Star Author Oregon Posts:853 Points:229,325 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:13:07 PM Ignore goinwgas Report Abuse all points need to be assessed
BurtB Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:5,135 Points:1,363,065 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:12:15 PM Ignore BurtB Report Abuse And for those who want the other side of the story from www.courierpress.com New documentary targets critics of fracking Fracking can be done safely, by ensuring that the activity is done 1000 ft below the water table. The Absolutists who want to ban all Fracking are either fools, and liars. The environmental movement has been largely taken over by Socialist. The goal is to cripple the West, not save the environment for future generations. These are the same people who believe that Humans are a virus on the planet.
JoeKR Champion Author New Jersey Posts:9,458 Points:1,742,295 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:11:44 PM Ignore JoeKR Report Abuse Which ever "side" is right, caution must be the operative principle.
georged12 All-Star Author Michigan Posts:836 Points:52,410 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:11:08 PM Ignore georged12 Report Abuse I worked on a frac crew for Halliburton from 1969 to 1973 and am now 64 and have not had any health problems.
BAJALRRP Veteran Author Tacoma Posts:431 Points:1,261,385 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:09:31 PM Ignore BAJALRRP Report Abuse It can work.
CiVX Champion Author Oakland Posts:7,050 Points:1,357,110 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:08:58 PM Ignore CiVX Report Abuse I understand its been used for oil also in California for years.
klw1963 Veteran Author Michigan Posts:420 Points:161,445 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:08:12 PM Ignore klw1963 Report Abuse I'm wondering who is behind this documentary. All neg no Pos. Hmmm.
Alfied Champion Author Riverside Posts:7,925 Points:1,753,185 Joined:Jun 2001	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:07:23 PM Ignore Alfied Report Abuse We need it.
CAD69 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:3,186 Points:842,240 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:06:50 PM Ignore CAD69 Report Abuse We need to make fracking work!
pecos Champion Author Columbus Posts:7,710 Points:2,108,510 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:03:36 PM Ignore pecos Report Abuse Makes it a bigger controversy?
Zackny Veteran Author New York Posts:387 Points:75,780 Joined:Jan 2013	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:02:34 PM Ignore Zackny Report Abuse ok
jnseyeongas All-Star Author Milwaukee Posts:745 Points:592,110 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:02:16 PM Ignore jnseyeongas Report Abuse What is happening to the workers on site. it doesn't sound as if the money their making will be worth the physical damage to themselves.
1fuelish1 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:14,790 Points:1,849,695 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:01:39 PM Ignore 1fuelish1 Report Abuse It is a puzzle. What is the answer. We need the energy, but we also need clean air and water. Surely there is a middle ground wheere fracking can be done cleanly and with minimum impact. The will to make it so apparently just doesn't exist.
chillyman3 Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,355 Points:422,140 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Feb 7, 2013 1:01:14 PM Ignore chillyman3 Report Abuse Old news different article!!!!!!!