A federal committee has formalized in a highly critical report what many of us have been shouting about for years: Fracking will cause "excessive" damage to the environment if steps aren't immediately taken to minimize its impacts. A little late to the party, but we appreciate the first truly candid federal assessment of a natural gas extraction process known to contaminate water supplies with human carcinogens, produce a rash of air-quality issues, and every now and then, cause residential drinking-water wells to explode. The federal advisory panel also issued a dramatic wake-up call, cautioning frackers that intensifying public concern and opposition could put the brakes on the fastest growing sector of our new energy economy. Here's to hoping the panel is right. From a Nov. 10 Associated Press report by Dina Cappiello: The seven-member committee said in a report released Thursday (Nov. 10) that progress by the federal government and the oil and gas industry on 20 recommendations it issued in August has been less than it hoped. It said if actions were not taken to avoid "excessive environmental impacts," a public outcry could delay or stop the gas drilling boom. Committee members stated that fracking in its current form and as it's currently ...
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