Our guests were:

Tom “Smitty” Smith, ex-director of Public Citizen Texas, still on as a much-needed consultant.

David Foster, Director of Clean Water Action, Austin Texas

Smitty and David discussed some of the hazards associated with fracking and impacts on water, the environment and local communities.

SOME KEY ISSUES WE EXPLORED:

Fracking and drinking water issues -

Issue: There are concerns that fracking may contaminate drinking water supplies with harmful chemicals, raising public health issues.

Fracking and earthquakes and tremors-

Issue: There have been well-publicized concerns that fracking wells, drilled thousands of feet down, may change geology in a substantial way, leading to earthquakes.

Fracking and leaky wells, methane, and climate risk -

Issue: The extraction process results in leakage of some greenhouse gas emissions.