Introduction to Environmental Policy

Session 9

Case Study Three: Hydrofracking

EVR 2861 

Note:

There is a lot of information and misinformation on hydrofracking so I encourage students to carefully view "Gasland 2010" and "Fracknation" since they present the competing perspectives on this issue.)

Reading:

Cohen, Steven (2014) Understanding Environmental Policy. New York, NY: Columbia University Press, Ch. 5.

Goldman, Gretchen, Deborah Bailin, Paul Rogerson, Jessie Agatstein, Jennifer Imm, and Pallavi Phartiyal (2013) Toward An Evidence-Based Fracking Debate: Science, Democracy, and Community Right to Know in Unconventional Oil and Gas Development. Cambridge, MA: Union of Concerned Scientists.

Murphy, Robert P. (2020) Managing the Risks of Hydrofracking: 2020. Vancouver, BC: Fraser Institute.

Video: Hydrofracking Explained; Gasland 2010; Fracknation.

Homework:

1. In 2020 Robert Murphy of the Fraser Institute made this assertion regarding hydrofracking: "The scientific understanding of the mechanisms through which fracking may affect human welfare—specifically through impacts on drinking water and seismicity—has improved over time, and researchers may view these particular impacts as more serious now than was the case for the 2015 literature update. Even so, actual demonstrated harm to human welfare from fracking is still extremely modest, despite the enormous boom in fracking operations and the passage of many years to allow for an assessment of its effects." By comparison, in 2013 Gretchen Goldman of the Union for Concerned Scientists identified a set of "hurdles" to truly knowing the impact of hydrofracking (see below). If a policymaker chose to rely on the Fraser Institute report how might they communicate environmental risk to the public?

2. If a policy maker relied upom the Goldman et al., report identifying a set of hurdles to understanding fracking safety then how might that policy maker make incremental steps to satisfying concerns for the 3 sets of hurdles?
3. Complete the assigned reading and watch all of the assigned videos but particularly Gasland 2010 which is available for free online and is an anti-fracking film followed by Fracknation - which is a pro-fracking film. Explain both perspectives on the fracking issue. Thereafter apply Cohen's policy framework and identify the pertinent (1) values, (2) political issues, (3) science & technology concerns, (4) public policy design and (5) management issues that appears to be involved with hydrofracking.