By Brian Sewell
The debate surrounding the controversial method of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas shows no signs of slowing down.
The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources recently submitted a final report in its shale gas study to the state general assembly. The report highlights the importance of establishing a strong regulatory framework before the state explores and extracts natural gas from the Sanford sub-basin deposits found throughout the Piedmont counties.
Some groups praised the DENR report’s reticence to endorse the practice outright. The state general assembly, however, is not required to take DENR’s recommendations. Before the final report was submitted, a state Senate panel approved a bill that would fast-track the elimination of the state’s current prohibitions on horizontal drilling.
Recently, a growing litany of researchers and impacted residents have voiced concerns of fracking’s impact on air and water quality, and its effects on human health. At the beginning of May, a peer-reviewed study commissioned by New York’s Catskill Mountainkeeper found that chemicals used in fracking can migrate to groundwater over the course of several years, contradicting the claims by the gas industry that these toxic chemicals stay underground forever.
Additionally, a Natural Resources Defense Council report conducted in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale concluded that all available options for dealing with contaminated wastewater from fracking are inadequate to protect human health and the environment. Yet, a rule proposed in May by the U.S. Department of Interior that would govern fracking on public lands does not require gas companies to disclose the chemicals used in the injection fluid — an ongoing hindrance to scientific research and the ability of communities to test for fracking-related water pollution.
In April, the Obama administration announced a partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of the Interior to ensure that continued expansion of natural gas occurs safely with science playing a guiding and critical role.
Related Articles
Latest News
More Stories
‘First Line of Defense’
During Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, rural fire departments and other first responder hubs played critical roles in keeping their communities safe, even without power and cut off from outside support for days or weeks after the storm. Two years later, plenty of work remains to ensure these hubs have the resources they need to operate day to day and be ready when emergencies or natural disasters strike.
The Rocky Road — and Bridge — to Recovery
Hurricane Helene is estimated to have damaged nearly 7,000 private roads and bridges in Western North Carolina. Two years later, many restoration projects are complete, but the journey hasn’t been easy — and isn’t over for others.
After 20 Years, Letcher County Prison Proposal Is Still Alive, Though Obstacles Remain
A $605 million proposal for a federal prison on a former strip mine site in Letcher County, Kentucky, championed by U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, refuses to die, despite local opposition, a lack of support from the executive branch and numerous other obstacles.
The Washout and Rebuild
For nearly two years, residents of Unicoi County, Tennessee, have had to make do without a hospital after Hurricane Helene destroyed the rural hospital. Ballad Health, which owns the hospital, broke ground on a new location — in another floodplain — in August 2026.
The Shenandoah Salamander
The Shenandoah salamander is a woodland salamander, which has adapted to life at higher elevations away from water. This sparkling rarity lives among the dry leaves, cracked logs, and stony hillocks on the highest peaks of Shenandoah National Park.
‘Foraging Is a Way of Connecting’
Foraging has experienced a modern resurgence, partly because of social media, online groups, the pandemic and people wanting to connect with nature. It also builds community, whether in person or online.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Leave a Comment