Predicting Future Fracking Sites Using Previous Health, Environmental, and Economic Data

Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is an extraction technique used to access underground deposits of natural gas and oil. While it has benefits on local and national economies, fracking is controversial due to its negative effects on environmental and human health. The goal of the current study is to understand stakeholder opinion using surveys near fracking sites and identify factors related to community vulnerability to fracking using economic, environmental, and health metrics. This study uses legal policies and economic laws as indicators for fracking motivations, soil and water contamination as indicators for environmental health, and drinking water and rates of respiratory disease as indicators for human health outcomes. The expected results are that there will be higher instances of poverty, soil and water contamination, and respiratory illness in areas close to fracking sites. Additionally, it is expected there will be economic benefits to having close fracking sites, and there will be greater public support for fracking closer to fracking sites. These metrics will be used to create a predictive model for likely locations for future fracking sites.