'Hydrofracking is a non-starter'

After reading about hydrofracking and seeing television investigative reporting and the movie “Gasland,” I have come to the conclusion that hydrofracking is a non-starter. Weighing gain versus risk, there should be no question in our minds that sacrificing our water supply and extreme conditions such as earthquakes should stop any further thought of doing this. The federal government has just released a report showing that poisonous chemicals, not natural to the areas in question, have been found in places where hydrofracking is occurring. Yet companies doing this form of mining refuse to state the chemicals they are using, claiming that it’s a trade secret. Millions of gallons of water are removed from the water table to effect this process. Earthquakes seem to be connected to the splitting of rock to free the gas, and poisonous gases such as methane and radon are often released as well! What can we do instead of fracking? We can conserve natural gas. We can get a free energy audit and plug up the holes so we can use less gas to heat our homes and businesses. These actions alone will increase the supply of natural gas on the market and lower the price as well. And we don’t have to risk our water supply, health, or spoil our environment by hydrofracking. Irene Schacher Warwick