The debate, between both the main participants and many of those who have left comments, is running on two tracks. One argument has developed about the nitty-gritty of shale-gas extraction. What the impact is not only of fracking but of all the associated requirements for extracting shale gas. Fracking merely releases shale gas from rocks far underground. Also in question is the integrity of wells and well-head equipment. Add to that disquiet over the use of the large quantities of water required and disposal of waste water and the heavy traffic that accompanies drilling each well (of which many are needed to extract gas at sufficient volumes) and the local effects start to add up.
