Conflict of Interests Charges Surround Two Pro-Fracking Studies

submitted by Luis Kun

Schematic diagram of hydrofracking operation // Source: savingwater.co.za

Homeland Security News Wire - July 30, 2012

Two recent studies — by research institutes at  the University of Buffalo and the University of Texas — on the relationship between fracking and the contamination of groundwater, offered what was claimed to be scientific, peer-reviewed research which concluded that fracking does not contribute to such contamination; an examination of the two reports reveals that they were not properly reviewed according to accepted academic standards, and that their authors, and the research institutes which sponsored them, are heavily involved with companies which conduct fracking operations; the author of the University of Texas report sits on the board of a leading fracking company, where his compensation is more than twice as large as his UT salary; he did not disclose this fact in the study — or inform UT of this connection; UT is investigating

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

Shale Resources and Society Institute (SRSI) - Environmental Impacts During Marcellus Shale Drilling: Causes, Impacts and Remedies
http://www.srsi.buffalo.edu/?page_id=276

Environmental Impacts During Marcellus Shale Drilling: Causes, Impacts and Remedies (52 page .PDF file)
http://www.srsi.buffalo.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/UBSRSI-Environmental-Impacts-Single-Page.pdf

Energy Institute - The University of Texas at Austin - Fact-Based Regulation for Environmental Protection in Shale Gas Development
http://energy.utexas.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=151&Itemid=160

(ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS STUDY)
http://us.resiliencesystem.org/industry-money-and-questionable-ethics-contaminate-ut-austin-fracking-study