Fracking in Wayne National Forest

 

The implementation of any technology should first require the consideration of the safety of life and property. Accordingly, engineers are bound by a code of ethics in their operations. Hydraulic fracturing is one of the technologies that raise safety concerns. This technology, also known as fracking, is used to obtain fossil fuels such as petroleum and natural gas from deep underground. The process entails drilling wells deep into the ground, reaching depths of up to 7000 feet. Veins are then drilled horizontally from the main vertical well, followed by the pumping of water and chemicals at extremely high pressure. The result is fracturing of the rocks which lead to the release of the natural resources from the rock pores. Such activities have been ongoing at the Wayne National Forest located in Ohio, US. However, they were halted after an earthquake struck the area, raising further safety concerns. I intend to argue that hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, should not be restarted in Wayne National Forest.

[Fracking in Wayne National Forest should not be restarted, first, because it is harmful to the forest ecosystem and creates a potential hazard for the people in the area]1. <Hence, fracking violates the ethical principle of non-maleficence. It is a principle requiring that operations do not bring any harm or adverse effects on other people’s interests (van de Poel 678)>. The nature of the fracking operation requires the use of large volumes of pumped water containing great amounts of chemicals. (Some of these chemicals are carcinogenic. Furthermore, much of this fluid is not removed after use, resulting in a great chance of it sipping into groundwater and contaminating it. The drilling also disrupts the ecosystem of the forest due to the clearing of vegetation to facilitate fracking). <To avoid such harm, we must consider the availability of alternatives. This is an approach to acceptable risks that considers the best available technology as a measure of what is acceptable (van de Poel and Royakkers 233)>. There are several better alternatives to fossil fuels obtained through fracking technology. These include solar power and wind power (Lawlor and Morley 1433). (These alternatives do not use the harmful chemicals found in fracking).

[My second argument is that many concerned citizens and environmental groups are against the approval of fracking in the forest, hence it should not be restarted]2. To restart these operations would be a violation of the ethical principle of respect for autonomy. <This ethical principle requires full disclosure of information regarding the technology and the approval by a democratically legitimized body (van de Poel 682)>. Although fracking was previously approved by the US Bureau of Land Management, this approval was found questionable. (Opponents found the Environmental Assessment unsatisfactory). Therefore, informed should be addressed as an approach to acceptable risk. <Informed consent states that activities are only acceptable if people have freely consented to them after being fully informed of the possible risks as well as benefits (van de Poel and Royakkers 231)>. (The Wayne National Forest case study portrays a lot of contention regarding the environmental effects of fracking). Hence, fracking should not be restarted in the forest.

Given my arguments, hydraulic fracturing should not be restarted in Wayne National Forest. The harmful effects of this technology on both the forest and nearby residents are too detrimental. Also, there are many citizens and environmental groups who are against this technology based on its effects on the environment. Hence, fracking violates the ethical principles of non-maleficence and respect for autonomy. Also, the approaches to acceptable risks including the availability of alternatives with lower risk and informed consent have not been considered.

 

Works Cited

Lawlor, Rob, and Helen Morley. “Climate Change and Professional Responsibility: A Declaration of Helsinki for Engineers.” Science and Engineering Ethics, vol.23, no.5, 2017, pp. 1431-1452.

van de Poel, Ibo. “An Ethical Framework for Evaluating Experimental Technology.” Science and Engineering Ethics, vol.22, no.3, 2016 pp. 667-686.

van de Poel, Ibo, and Lambèr Royakkers. Ethics, Technology, and Engineering: An Introduction. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2011.