BOOK REVIEW “
The exercises provide practice in making use of the information found in the book to estimate the cost of mitigations, to understand legal arguments related to exposure and causation, as well as the four possible categories of litigation.
The book begins with the history of Hydraulic Fracturing, common geology of unconventional resources, stimulation techniques for tight oil and gas shale formations, and the risks to groundwater, surface water and air quality, as well as mitigation methods But it goes beyond these topics: the authors also provide discussions of ecological resources and the socioeconomics of land use, as well as of legislative trends, legal considerations and case law, and forensic evaluations. It is these added topics that can provide communities that are addressing hydraulic fracturing activities in their vicinity with guidance for the next steps in their investigation. The authors have supplemented their excellent dialogue with eleven appen- dices that provide environmental checklists, summary of job hazards during the stimulation process, sampling methods and documentation, exposure planning, emergency response and toxicity tables.
The geology and chemistry of unconventional resources determine the chosen stimulation method and the manage- ment of the hydraulically fractured wells. The book includes a critical set of facts that communities and consultants can use to understand the realities of a well fracking project. The authors provide a global and national awareness of where geology is conducive for this technology as well as a basic understanding of Shale Gas, Tight Natural Gas, Tight Oil and Coalbed Natural Gas methodologies. A community activist or consultant can quickly distill details of a project down and develop informed questions to ask during the data gather- ing and public comment process or in other dialogues with hydraulic fracturing companies.
Because there is a lot of detail in each chapter, the authors provide an overview of subtopics for each chapter, and end each one with “Exercises” that help the reader absorb key information and build a technical, socioeconomic and gover- nance understanding. The exercises provide practice in mak- ing use of the information found in the book to estimate the cost of mitigations, to understand legal arguments related to exposure and causation, as well as the four possible categories of litigation. They test comprehension of sampling protocols, trouble shooting techniques, and induced seismicity.
This book will be an added benefit to consultants who are active in addressing the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing, as well as those of other contaminant sources. Chapter 12 discusses, in detail, the development of a site conceptual model for exposure and of the exposure pathways likely present. The authors provide explanations of the types of exposure and the likely risks from Pathway Group 0 (well head to distribution center) through Pathway Group 4 (liquids and gases injected into disposal formations). Sampling meth-
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odologies are discussed as well as field readings and laboratory quantitative methodologies. Quality control parameters are explained for aiding the reader to evaluate the quality of labo- ratory data obtained during the evaluation and monitoring of subsurface sediment, soil-gas, groundwater and surface water. The exercises accompanying this chapter (Ch. 12) include a hypothetical scenario of Glutaraldehyde potentially released into the environment. Eleven questions have been crafted so that readers can exercise their ability to work through an example of a real problem that can sometimes occur in hydraulic fracturing.
I have a particular affinity for viewing public perception on earth science topics such as hydraulic fracturing, water resources and climate change because misinformation and misunderstanding are at the root of much public opinion. These imperfect understandings sculpt public opinion by accentuating unclear thinking to support the desired outcome of the proponent for or challenger of the proposed action.
Communities in different parts of the United States are becoming more vocal in expressing their feelings of vulnerabil- ity to the hydraulic fracturing projects that have been proposed or are currently active and in close proximity. It has been my personal experience that an immediate cause of discomfort to the public-at-large is the exemptions that hydraulic fracturing has to the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Air Act, and to the Emergency Planning and Community Right- To-Know Act of 1986, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Superfund program. Exemption from these foundational laws has become a continued public relations problem when the same chemicals as those used in fracking do come under these laws when used by other industries. The information provided in the numerous appendices to this book aids community lead- ers in identifying the best protective measures by developing fact-based strategies that protect their community.
It can certainly be said that hydraulic fracturing companies that seek successful projects can achieve their objectives by providing truthful, fact-based information that is compiled with a clear intent to be responsible for safe use of the technology. This book is valuable because it gives a concise overview, with plenty of details, of the technologies. A refer- ence document giving an understanding of the technology and its socioeconomic and legal implications is long overdue. I highly recommend this book to the regulatory community, consultants in the environmental industry and community organizers who seek a greater understanding of this technology and find themselves at the sharp end of hydraulic fracturing projects being considered in their communities.
This book will be an added benefit to consultants who are active in addressing the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing, as well as those of other contaminant sources.
34 TPG •
Jul.Aug.Sep 2020
www.aipg.org
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