Research
Here we've linked to some of the best independent research out there as a quick guide to shale gas drilling and hydrofracking.
Most Recent
Jessica Ernst: Brief Review of Threats to Canada's Groundwater from the Oil and Gas Industry's Methane Migration and Hydraulic Fracturing
Pennsylvania Alliance for Clean Water and Air: Map of the Harmed
Radioactive Waste Management Associates: Radon in Natural Gas from Marcellus Shale
EPA Study: Pavilion, WY water impacted by fracking
EPA: Hazardous Substances found in Dimock water
ATSDR: Analysis of hazardous substances found in Dimock water
Anne Marie Garti - Pace Law School: The Illusion of the Blue Flame: Water Law and Unconventional Gas Drilling in New York
An Overview

- New York Times: Drilling Down (series)
- USGS: Marcellus Shale Water Resources and Natural Gas Production
- National Geographic: The Great Shale Gas Rush (series)
- ProPublica: Buried Secrets: Gas Drilling's Environmental Threat (series)
- Video of Debate: Dr. Tony Ingraffea vs. Dr. Donald Siegel (2/20/2011)
- Osborne et. al., Duke University: Methane Contamination of Drinking Water Accompanying Gas-Well Drilling and Hydraulic Fracturing
- J. David Hughes: Will Natural Gas Fuel America in the 21st Century?
- Congress to EPA: Diesel fuel is still being used in fracking fluid
- Environmental Working Group report: Cracks in the Façade
Water Pollution

EPA Study: Pavilion, WY water impacted by fracking
EPA: Hazardous Substances found in Dimock water
ATSDR: Analysis of hazardous substances found in Dimock water
PennEnvironment: 3355 violations in 4 years of drilling
EPA: Hazardous Substances found in Dimock water
ATSDR: Analysis of hazardous substances found in Dimock water
PennEnvironment: 3355 violations in 4 years of drilling
Health

- It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Carl Stiles on January 26th, 2012 from cancer. He and his wife Judy were driven from their home in 2011 by pollution from the drilling in Bradford County, PA. Our thoughts are with Judy and her family.
- Physicians, Scientists, and Engineers: letter to Governor Cuomo
- Health Survey Results of Current and Former DISH/Clark, Texas Residents
- Dr. Theo Colburn et al: Natural Gas Operations from a Public Health Perspective
- Center for Healthy Environments & Communities (CHEC) at University of Pittsburgh: Marcellus Shale Gas Extraction: Potential Public Health Impacts & a Tool to Track Them
- CHEC: Contaminant Characterization of Effluent from Pennsylvania Brine Treatment Inc., Josephine Facility: Implications for Disposal of Oil and Gas Flowback Fluids from Brine Treatment Plants
- Dr. Conrad Volz Testimony to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, 4/12/2011
- Mt. Sinai School of Medicine Global Health Conference on Toxins: Fracking and Advocacy Panel, 3/12/2011
- NPR: Air Quality Concerns Threaten Natural Gas's Image
- Report: Radioactivity in Marcellus Shale
- Radioactive Waste Management Associates: Radon in Natural Gas from Marcellus Shale
Pennsylvania Alliance for Clean Water and Air's "List of the Harmed" is now mapped, thanks to Fracktracker.
"The CDC Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registries is now joining the EPA in calling for rigorous scientific investigations of the human health effects of horizontal hydraulic fracturing. It should be obvious to Governor Cuomo, who stated that science and facts should determine regulation of this industrial process in New York State, that proceeding with issuing permits for natural gas extraction using these novel techniques before the science has been done is irresponsible," said Dr. Adam Law, a physician specializing in endocrinology in Ithaca, NY, Clinical Assistant Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College and a founding board member of Physicians, Scientists and Engineers for Health Energy. "Medical professionals, especially pediatricians, endocrinologists and oncologists, know that the chemicals used in this inherently dangerous process have the potential to damage the health of vulnerable populations including children and other residents in areas where hydrofracking is taking place."
Climate Change
- EPA: Climate Benefits of Natural Gas May be Overstated
- Dr. Robert Howarth, Cornell University: Methane and the greenhouse-gas footprint of natural
gas from shale formations - Nature: Air Sampling Reveals High Emissions from Gas Field
Economic / Social impacts

- Elisabeth Radow: Homeowners and Gas Drilling Leases: Boon or Bust? - NYS Bar Association Journal
- NYT: Rush to Drill for Natural Gas Creates Conflicts With Mortgages
- Susan Christopherson: The Economic Consequences of Shale Gas Extraction (report)
- New mortgages unavailable for properties with gas drilling leases
- Janette Barth: Unanswered Questions About The Economic Impact of Gas Drilling In the Marcellus Shale: Don’t Jump to Conclusions
- How Should We Think About the Economic Consequences of Shale Gas Drilling? presented by Susan Christopherson, PhD, Professor, City and Regional Planning, Cornell University
- National Geographic: A Dream Dashed by the Rush on Gas - Stephanie Hallowich's experience
Legal

- Anne Marie Garti - Pace Law School: The Illusion of the Blue Flame: Water Law and Unconventional Gas Drilling in New York
- Gas companies can't claim "takings" for municipal bans
- Helen and David Slottje: How the Binghamton decision upholds the right of municipalities to ban fracking