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Hydraulic fracturing in the United States

A gas flare burns at a fracking site in rural Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

Falling natural gas prices are bad news for some US communities

Environment

The boom in natural gas brought new businesses and jobs to many communities in the US, including some in western Pennsylvania. But now oversupply linked to a mild winter means some of those businesses are going bust and the jobs are disappearing.

Under the new federal fracking rules, wastewater must be managed onsite and in closed tanks, not in the open pits seen here.

Fracking is about to change, and almost no one is happy about it

Environment
Fracking in PA

Fracking often gets blamed for water problems, but it’s not a clear cut case

Environment

EPA acknowledges link between fracking, well pollution in Wyoming

Environment

Burning water, contamination and natural gas “fracking”

Environment

Fight over natural gas gets heated

Environment

Natural gas could reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but some are questioning the potentially destructive way that companies extract it.

Waste Water from Oil Extraction Can Cause Earthquakes

Environment

A new study links a 2011 earthquake in Oklahoma to wells containing waste water from oil and gas extraction.

Fracking Around the Globe

Hydraulic fracturing–aka “fracking”–is transforming the energy landscape in the US. Now there’s a rush to bring the technology to the rest of the world.

The World

Is Fracking Making People Sick?

The jury is out on the public health impacts of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, but some health workers are beginning to collect data in an ongoing search for clues.

The World

Fracking with Propane Instead of Water

A Canadian company is using propane instead of water to extract gas from shale formations. The method is controversial; some question its safety.