ABSTRACT
Hydraulic fracturing (or ‘fracking’) entails the forceful injection of ‘fluid’ at high levels of pressure into deep, underground shale deposits in order to dislodge gas; once the rock formation has been broken up or ‘fractured’, the gas can flow to a well, where it is pumped out of the ground. In the United States (U.S.), natural gas production has increased considerably over the last decade because of the oil and gas (O&G) industry’s embrace of this technique, but not without controversy. This chapter intercedes in the debate over fracking. Noting that there remains a paucity of research focussed on understanding individuals’ direct experiences and perceptions of risk associated with fracking-related harm and externalities, particularly those associated with spills of fracking fluid and produced water, as well as a dearth of research on regulatory responses after spills or leaks occur on or near citizens’ property, the authors examine a wide range of data, including qualitative interviews with citizens, official data, and survey data from a sample of citizens’ filing complaints with the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC). While the chapter’s focus is on Colorado, a state in the Rocky Mountain region of the U.S., its findings enhance our understanding of who experiences the burdens of resource extraction expansion.
