Hydro-fracturing

From Wikimarcellus

Hydro-fracturing, or fracing for short, is the process of injecting water, sand, diesel fuel, and/or a cocktail of chemicals to fracture shale formations thereby releasing methane that is trapped in pores of the rock.

Many environmentalists have raised concerned about this process as a source of toxic contamination of the water supply. It also requires millions of gallons of water which usually must be trucked into drilling sites. The trucks and diesel engines used to power the drilling equipment are recognized as a source of air pollution and have also led to noise-control issues.