There was recently an HBO documentary on this specific method of drilling for natural gas that is on the rise in many states.  It is believed that natural gas is migrating into the local water supply, as a result of this particular method, in many locations throughout Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, and other states.

Video footage is shown of water coming out of kitchen faucets and in local creeks actually being set afire!  65% of Pennsylvania and 50% of New York State is thought to contain a rich supply of natural gas in a formation that is particularly amenable to this specific technique of removal.

Critics say that 596 different chemicals, plus water under very high pressure, are being used to extract the gas.  Besides resulting in flammable water in several locations, most of these 596 chemicals are left in the ground to seep into our water supply and contaminate the soil.

Because of legislation passed in 2005, the natural gas drilling industry is exempt from specific federal laws that protect our environment and our health, the film claims.  Specifically: the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Superfund Law (about which I have written previously).

Gasland is the name of the documentary by Josh Fox.  Spokesmen for the natural gas drilling industry have offered rebuttal to the viewpoint offered in the documentary, but it doesn’t seem very convincing to many who have listened to both sides.  

See: The Gasland Movie Website, Josh Fox on the Daily Show demonstrating “flammable water” & The Gas Companies’ Rebuttal