Still waiting on credible evidence

No comprende. Recent letters to the editor by Diana Presser and Jesus Rivas, again demonstrate there is little evidence that fracking is a big problem, yet there are so many good people who believe it is. I’m still waiting to see the unbiased, credible sources that warrants their concerns.

Diana references a website (fraccidents.com) that is unabashedly biased ... and points out the medical problems that could result if exposed to fracking fluids. Jesus references several fracking accidents in Pennsylvania, but doesn’t remind us that the geology of that state is much, much different than ours.

What opponents of fracking generally leave out of their arguments is the very low probability of their occurrence. To his credit, Jesus does mention that various kinds of drilling accidents in Pennsylvania happen at a rate of 1.5 percent. Is that really a bad accident rate for all the many activities that go into drilling a well? Sure we all try at home, on the road, and at work and play to be perfectly safe, but we are, in the end, imperfect humans. Have you ever told yourself, “Wow, that was a stupid thing to do”?

A quote from “Gas Drilling Is Called Safe In New York,” New York Times on Jan. 3, 2013: “ALBANY — The state’s Health Department found in an analysis it prepared early last year that the much-debated drilling technology known as hydrofracking could be conducted safely in New York, according to a copy obtained by The New York Times from an expert who did not believe it should be kept secret.”

This is yet another state that has come to the same conclusion. Why do the opponents of fracking not believe this? I can’t help but think there must be something else at play here than just fracking that warrants such opposition.

At the age of 7, I was identifying birds and trees in my neighborhood, and I still am. The diversity and beauty of nature have guided my entire life. I relate these things to simply illustrate my devotion to the  natural world God has given us. I do not want to see any environmental problems. I want to protect and conserve what we have, but I need more than just emotional expressions of impending doom to convince me fracking is truly a dire problem.

Frank Splendoria
Gascon