New fracking forum pledges to reduce environmental impact

Concerned by the effects of fracking, several groups have banded together to create a new forum designed to improve the environmental and economic impacts of fracking, according to a recent article in Chemical and Engineering News.

The new group includes the American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Institute and companies such as Apache, Marathon Oil, Rockwater Energy Solutions and Dow Chemical. The forum has been named GCI’s Hydraulic Fracturing Roundtable.

The forum plans to address the waste produced by fracking, especially large amounts of contaminated water. They’ll also be trying to reduce hydrocarbon emissions and the amount of chemicals used in fracking operations, among other measures.

Top image: A recent study evaluated the toxicity of common chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. (Credit: William Stringfellow)