Managing Earth's Natural Resources - Research Paper Example

I have read your arguments, which support the lifting of new permits for hydraulic fracturing. Looking keenly on the arguments which you brought forward, I tend to object the move to allow corporations to destruct Callicoon. This is because the negative effects of permitting extraction companies to explore this area outweigh the perceived positive outcomes. To start with, the hydraulic fracturing fluids contain toxic and carcinogenic chemicals. These chemicals pose a danger to contaminate large portions of underground water.

Contamination of water endangers the lives of aquatic animals such as fish in Callicoon-on-the-Delaware. In addition, the noxious chemicals such as benzene and ethyl benzene can enter the food chain of water animals, which are essential as a food source for people. The case of death of fish in 2009 because of Cabot Oil and Gas well in Pennsylvania should be a good example for you to consider before supporting the activities of the drillers. On top of this, plants can absorb these poisonous chemicals after diluting with water and therefore posing danger of their extinction (McGraw 1).

This therefore, will destroy the natural and scenic Callicoon. The testing of water, which the drilling companies advance, may not be perfect. Jack, you should know that these companies are out to make huge profits (Kastenbaum 1). Therefore, I have fears they can claim that the water is safe so that they continue with their profitable natural gas extraction. Second, the pressurized fluids, which the drilling companies employ, are very high and can cause unwanted spill over to the areas that neighbors fracturing site.

These spills can lead to surface contamination. Similarly, the spills can flow back to the rivers endangering the aquatic lives. In addition, the drilling process emits harmful gases such as methane. Methane gas has detrimental effects to the environment such as formation of acid rain, which can destruct natural vegetation. In addition, methane contamination of underground water leads to explosion of residential houses. While I acknowledge your futuristic thinking, the desire for large sums of money can be a source of havoc in many people living Callicoon.

The case of Pennsylvania is still live in my memory. The actions of drilling companies have led to more than eighteen families to look for ways to get clean water. This after methane and other toxic chemicals contaminated their water. Drinking of this water, which contains hydraulic fracturing chemicals, poses health hazards to the people of Pennsylvania. Some of these fracturing fluids such as ZetaFlow, are very dangers and can cause loss of senses of smell and headache. At extreme cases, the fluid in question can lead to breakdown in heart and lungs (Wireback 1).

Lastly, the drilling process has potential of creating water shortage in Callicoon and New York. This is because the extraction of natural gas utilizes large volumes of water. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approximated that drilling uses 70 to 140 billion gallons of water to drill 35,000 wells annually. According to this agency, this water can sustain 40 to 80 cities, which is an equivalent of 50,000 people (McGraw 2). Lack of water is detrimental to the lives of animals and vegetation in New York.

Jack, it is evident that supporting the lift of moratorium on hydraulic fracturing will create anarchy and suffering to the people of New York. I encourage you Jack to shun away short-lived benefits of allowing contractors to exploit