Monday, 20 May, 2013

Classroom Activity Page: Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a high-pressure technique for cracking rocks and allowing natural gas to reach wells. Amid a boom in U.S. natural gas production, industry promises that fracking will bring Americans jobs and low-cost energy for decades. Opponents warn that the drilling-and-fracking process threatens to pollute air, surface water, and most importantly, groundwater. Will these concerns stymie an ongoing boom in natural gas production? Should they?

A high-pressure rock-buster caused natural gas production to explode. How does fracking work? What’s up with groundwater pollution?

Twenty-five years ago, trash incinerators were a major source of air pollution. In Europe today, cleaner incinerators are common and accepted, providing steam and electricity while reducing garbage to ash. If even the Euro-Greens can abide them, why are garbage incinerators so rare in North America?

How should we deal with mercury air pollution in air, fish and water? Why do the studies of mercury consumption not agree? What to do when the studies conflict…

Marine iguana in the Galapagos islands are suffering from trace amounts of oil left by a tanker accident.