Participation Type
Workshop
Session Title
Session 11.15 Environment and Ecology
Presentation #1 Title
Finding Fracking with FracTracker.org: An interactive training on using FracTracker maps to examine oil and gas activities in your area
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Unconventional gas and oil extraction – often referred to as ‘fracking’ – has increased significantly in the United States over the last few years. The associated environmental and public health concerns have created a desire to track where drilling is occurring near vulnerable populations and areas. This session is a hands-on training for those who would like to utilize the new and free mapping capacities available through FracTracker.org, a web-based tool for tracking and visualizing data related to oil and gas extraction operations. The mapping tool is already being used by citizen water monitoring volunteers and community advocates with the MWA’s Marcellus Citizen Stewardship Project. Unconventional oil and gas activity in 18 states and counting have been mapped on FracTracker.org. Each state map relies upon the availability of public data, and shows the location of permits, operators, well sites, violations, compressor stations, and disposal wells, where available. This workshop will highlight the insightful maps and findings of FracTracker’s work across the nation on gas and oil issues, such as the US Map of Suspected Well Water Impacts, and show participants how to apply this technology in their own communities. After the training, participants will be able to find where drilling operations are located on an online, dynamic map, measure how close activity is occurring to areas of interest such as bodies of water, and understand the nature of drilling violations.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Mary Ellen Cassidy is the Community Outreach Coordinator for FracTracker Alliance. Her academic background is in chemistry, mathematics and environmental science and her professional work includes research and communications related to the impacts of energy systems on their surrounding and extended communities.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Pamela Twiss is a social work educator with a background in social welfare and community development. She also serves as co-coordinator of the Northern Appalachian Network.
Finding Fracking with FracTracker.org: An interactive training on using FracTracker maps to examine oil and gas activities in your area
Corbly Hall 464
Unconventional gas and oil extraction – often referred to as ‘fracking’ – has increased significantly in the United States over the last few years. The associated environmental and public health concerns have created a desire to track where drilling is occurring near vulnerable populations and areas. This session is a hands-on training for those who would like to utilize the new and free mapping capacities available through FracTracker.org, a web-based tool for tracking and visualizing data related to oil and gas extraction operations. The mapping tool is already being used by citizen water monitoring volunteers and community advocates with the MWA’s Marcellus Citizen Stewardship Project. Unconventional oil and gas activity in 18 states and counting have been mapped on FracTracker.org. Each state map relies upon the availability of public data, and shows the location of permits, operators, well sites, violations, compressor stations, and disposal wells, where available. This workshop will highlight the insightful maps and findings of FracTracker’s work across the nation on gas and oil issues, such as the US Map of Suspected Well Water Impacts, and show participants how to apply this technology in their own communities. After the training, participants will be able to find where drilling operations are located on an online, dynamic map, measure how close activity is occurring to areas of interest such as bodies of water, and understand the nature of drilling violations.
