I believe the issue is their use of chromates for corrosion and microbiological organism control. We stopped using chromates in the nuclear power industry because of their toxicity.
1. The fracking chemicals are pumped many thousands of feet below the water table. The only connection to the water table is through leaks in the bore hole. Better quality bore holes are possible.
2. There are less toxic substitutes for chromates. It means a seperate chemical for corrosion control and for microbe control.
This finding isn’t the end of fracking. It just means an adjustment in the practices
The oil (mostly natural gas nowdays) fields are being fracked at 8,000 - 15,000 feet down.
Water wells? 200 feet to 800 feet. A few below 1000, but not many. Rural (single family private) wells - that are the ONLY ones actually above the fracked area - are almost never even that deep.
This is pure enviro-mental hype. Played out in Obama’s ABBCNNBCBS media.
State agencies have released this information. For example, in New York State, it was a scientific and economic development agency (NYSERDA), not the regulatory agency, that commissioned reports from various sources to support the Generic Environmental Impact Statement. For water-related issues, URS Corporation provided the research (PDF). Note that URS Corporation is a consultant to drilling companies, so any bias would be pro-drilling. The draft GEIS is here.
Other states (e.g., Pennsylvania) have looked at MSDSs used by the drilling sites, although this list had to be pared down because non-downhole chemicals still have MSDSs. Still, many are carcinogens...and no matter how many "food" ingredients you put into it, it doesn't mean that the carcinogens in it will suddenly be "overruled" by all the gummi bears you included.
I know that the Democrats of these states are hoping that shale gas will get them out of their irresponsible budget messes, but even conservative geologists are starting to reverse their support as more information comes out.
Remember, Halliburton even admitted only a couple of years ago that they were still using diesel fuel to frack, despite promises given years earlier that they wouldn't do that anymore. Fortunately, they seem to be developing improvements, such as the CleanStim system (h/t epithermal).
Note: I have personal and professional interests that would be promoted by the increased exploitation of shale gas. But I am also a man of integrity.
(Extracted from http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/materials_minerals_pdf/ogdsgeischap5.pdf)
| CAS Number | Chemical Constituent |
|---|---|
| 2634-33-5 | 1,2 Benzisothiazolin-2-one / 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one |
| 95-63-6 | 1,2,4 trimethylbenzene |
| 123-91-1 | 1,4-Dioxane |
| 3452-07-1 | 1-eicosene |
| 629-73-2 | 1-hexadecene |
| 112-88-9 | 1-octadecene |
| 1120-36-1 | 1-tetradecene |
| 10222-01-2 | 2,2 Dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide, a biocide |
| 27776-21-2 | 2,2'-azobis-{2-(imidazlin-2-yl)propane}-dihydrochloride |
| 73003-80-2 | 2,2-Dobromomalonamide |
| 15214-89-8 | 2-Acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulphonic acid sodium salt polymer |
| 46830-22-2 | 2-acryloyloxyethyl(benzyl)dimethylammonium chloride |
| 52-51-7 | 2-Bromo-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol |
| 111-76-2 | 2-Butoxy ethanol |
| 1113-55-9 | 2-Dibromo-3-Nitriloprionamide (2-Monobromo-3-nitriilopropionamide) |
| 104-76-7 | 2-Ethyl Hexanol |
| 67-63-0 | 2-Propanol / Isopropyl Alcohol / Isopropanol / Propan-2-ol |
| 26062-79-3 | 2-Propen-1-aminium, N,N-dimethyl-N-2-propenyl-chloride, homopolymer |
| 9003-03-6 | 2-propenoic acid, homopolymer, ammonium salt |
| 25987-30-8 | 2-Propenoic acid, polymer with 2 p-propenamide, sodium salt / Copolymer of acrylamide and sodium acrylate |
| 71050-62-9 | 2-Propenoic acid, polymer with sodium phosphinate (1:1) |
| 66019-18-9 | 2-propenoic acid, telomer with sodium hydrogen sulfite |
| 107-19-7 | 2-Propyn-1-ol / Propargyl alcohol |
| 51229-78-8 | 3,5,7-Triaza-1-azoniatricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]decane, 1-(3-chloro-2-propenyl)-chloride, |
| 115-19-5 | 3-methyl-1-butyn-3-ol |
| 127087-87-0 | 4-Nonylphenol Polyethylene Glycol Ether Branched / Nonylphenol ethoxylated / Oxyalkylated Phenol |
| 64-19-7 | Acetic acid |
| 68442-62-6 | Acetic acid, hydroxy-, reaction products with triethanolamine |
| 108-24-7 | Acetic Anhydride |
| 67-64-1 | Acetone |
| 79-06-1 | Acrylamide |