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Fracking : How It Affects The Environment?

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Fracking: How It Affects The Environment?
Concerns with the environment have recently been front and center in the United States. Especially with the pending presidential election, many environmental issues are at the forefront of countless conversations. There is a consensus between parties that domestic energy production must continue to increase, but there are conflicting opinions as to where that energy production should come from. Should we use non-renewable resources or invest in new and innovative renewable energy sources? Our dependency on foreign oil puts the U.S. in a very vulnerable position on both the political and economical fronts. Countless studies have been conducted supporting both arguments. While our environment is a major consideration for determining which sources to utilize, the economic implications must also be weighed. Renewable energy sources could last indefinitely, but will need to be repaired and/or replaced at some point. One alternative to renewable energy is a practice called “Fracking”. Fracking is slang for hydraulic fracturing. It is commonly described as a technique used to release petroleum, natural gas (including shale gas, tight gas and coal seam gas), or other substances for extraction (Philippe Charlez, 1997).
When determining how our country will produce fuels, many factors should be considered. If fracking is the way to go, we must first we ensure we know exactly what it is. Fracking refers to the procedure of creating

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