ON THE LAW

Actual truth:
GasLand myth:
 The oil and natural gas industry is regulated under every single
“What I didn’t know was that the 2005 energy
one of these federal laws — under provisions of each that are
bill pushed through Congress by Dick Cheney
relevant to its operations.
exempts the oil and natural gas industries from
the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Safe   he 2005 energy bill was supported by nearly three-quarters of the
T
Drinking Water Act...and about a dozen other U.S. Senate, including then-Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. In the
environmental regulations.” (6:05) U.S. House, 75 Democrats joined 200 Republicans in supporting
the final bill.

ON THE PROCESS

Actual truth:
GasLand myth:
  he fracturing process uses a mixture of fluids comprised almost
T
“The fracking itself is like a mini-earthquake.
entirely (99.5%) of water and sand. The remaining materials, used
… In order to frack, you need some fracking
to help deliver the water down the wellbore, are typically found and
fluid — a mix of over 596 chemicals.” (6:50)
used around the house. The average fracturing operation utilizes
fewer than 12 of these components, according to the Ground Water
Protection Council — not 596.

  ver the course of its history, fracturing has not only been used to
O
increase the flow of oil and natural gas from existing wells, but also
to access things like water and geothermal energy. It’s even been
used by EPA to clean up Superfund sites.

ON DISCLOSURE

Actual truth:
GasLand myth:
 The entire universe of additives used in the fracturing process is
“Fracking chemicals are considered
known to the public and the state agencies that represent them.
proprietary.” (1:00:56)
 Not only do individual states mandate disclosure, the federal
government does as well. The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) mandates this information be kept at every
wellsite, and made readily available to response and medical
personnel in case of an emergency.

ON FLAMMABLE FAUCETS

Actual truth:
GasLand myth:
  olorado debunks the claim: “Dissolved methane in well water
C
Methane in the water in Fort Lupton, Colo. said
appears to be biogenic [naturally occurring] in origin. ...There
to be the result of natural gas development.
are no indications of oil & gas related impacts to water well.”
(COGCC, 9/30/08)
 ON DUNKARD CREEK

Actual truth:
GasLand myth:
 EPA debunks the claim: “The situation in Dunkard Creek should
Deceased fish along a 35-mile stretch of creek
be considered a chronic exposure since chloride levels were
in western Pennsylvania attributed to natural
elevated above the criteria for long periods of time.” (EPA, 11/23/09)
gas development.
  ocal media cite “glaring error”: “One glaring error in the film is the
L
suggestion that gas drilling led to the September fish kill at Dunkard
Creek in Greene County. That was determined to have been
caused by a golden algae bloom from mine drainage from a [mine]
discharge.” (Washington [Pa.] Observer-Reporter, 6/5/10)

ON WEST DIVIDE CREEK

Actual truth:
GasLand myth:
  olorado debunks it (again): “Stable isotopes from 2007 consistent
C
Methane in West Divide Creek, Colo. blamed
with 2004 samples indicting gas bubbling in surface water features
on natural gas development.
is of biogenic origin.” (COGCC, July 2009)

  ollow-up email: “Lisa: As you know since 2004, the COGCC staff
F
has responded to your concerns about potential gas seepage along
West Divide Creek on your property and to date we have not found
any indication that the seepage you have observed is related to
oil and gas activity.” (email from COGCC to Bracken, 06/30/08)

STATE REGULATORS: IN THEIR OWN WORDS

PENNSYLVANIA: “There has never been any evidence of fracking ever

causing direct contamination of fresh groundwater in Pennsylvania or
anywhere else.” (PA DEP’s Scott Perry, Scranton Times-Tribune, 4/2/10)

NEW YORK: “I think is clear that when put into the proper
Drilling for Natural Gas in the context and perspective, the reported information shows that
Marcellus Shale Formation the incidence of spills and other pollution events at modern
Frequently Asked Questions naturlal gas well sites is exceedingly low …” (Alexander B.
“Pete” Grannis, commissioner of NY DEC, 12/30/09)
Can drilling companies keep the names of TEXAS: “Though hydraulic fracturing has been used for over 50
chemicals used at drilling sites a secret? years in Texas, our records do not indicate a single documented
contamination case associated with hydraulic fracturing.”
No. Drilling companies must disclose (Texas Railroad Commission’s Victor Carrillo, 5/29/2009)
the names of all chemicals to be stored OHIO: “After 25 years of investigating citizen complaints of
and used at a drilling site … as part of the contamination, [our] geologists have not documented a single
permit application process. These plans incident involving contamination of ground water attributed to
hydraulic fracturing.” (Scott Kell, deputy chief of Ohio DNR, 5/27/09)
contain copies of material safety data
sheets for all chemicals … This information NEW MEXICO: “[W]e have found no example of contamination of
is on file with DEP and is available to usable water where the cause was claimed to be hydraulic fracturing.”
(Mark Fesmire, director of NM Oil Conservation Division, 5/29/09)
landowners, local governments and
emergency responders. ALABAMA: “I can state with authority that there have been no
documented cases of drinking water contamination caused
Source: Marcellus FAQ fact sheet, PA DEP; accessed on 4/20/10
by such hydraulic fracturing operations in our state.” (Barry H.
“Nick” Tew, Jr., Oil & Gas supervisor for Alabama, 5/27/09)