High-volume, slickwater hydraulic fracturing, a natural gas extraction process also known as fracking, may be coming to Maryland in 2014 when the current moratorium ends. Yet many Maryland citizens know little about fracking. Additionally, Virginia\’s Dominion Resources is currently seeking to turn its Cove Point Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) import terminal in southern MD into an export terminal. If this is approved, Maryland will become a large-scale, industrial thoroughfare of pipelines and compressor stations bringing gas from neighboring states, and possibly Western Maryland, to Cove Point for the purpose of export to Asia.
This presentation will look at the basic facts about fracking and Cove Point and their potential ramifications on the health of our drinking water, air and citizens. Fracking is already occurring in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, among many other states, and its economic, environmental and public health impacts are being documented. Does this energy extraction process align with our responsibility to care for Creation? Does it protect the natural resources essential to life? Does it honor our obligation to children and future generations to leave the world a better place than we found it? Become informed and decide for yourself whether Maryland should allow fracking and the Cove Point LNG export terminal in this state.
Lisa Bardack is a writer and environmental educator currently focused on the moral implications inherent in fossil fuel energy extraction.