APES Unit 5 FRQ Exam Review Solution Latest Update

Identify and describe TWO water-related environmental problems associated with
fracking - ANS-- Groundwater contamination: Fracking liquids or chemicals can contaminate drinking
water or
groundwater. Liquid waste stored in waste lagoons can leach into groundwater (aquifer). Drilling can
allow methane (or natural gas) to seep into groundwater.
- Excessive water use or consumption: Considerable amounts of water are used in the fracking process.
This can result in overdrafts of aquifers. Water demands for the fracking process
compete with water demands for drinking or irrigation (agriculture).
Natural gas is considered to be a better fossil fuel for the environment than coal is. Discuss TWO
environmental benefits of using natural gas as a fuel compared to using coal. - ANS-- Benefits of natural
gas (must be environmental, not economic) include the following:Fewer SOx are produced, resulting in
less acid rain. Fewer NOx are produced, resulting in less acid rain and less photochemical smog. Less Hg
is released. Harmful mining techniques are avoided; for example, no strip mining or mountaintop
removal is required.
Describe TWO environmental drawbacks, not related to water use, of using the fracking process to
extract natural gas from shale. - ANS-- Habitat fragmentation/destruction can occur from setting up the
drilling site or from building
roads.
- Earthquakes can result from the drilling/fracking process.
- Methane can leak (into the atmosphere) during the process, resulting in an increase of
greenhouse gases.
- Subsidence of the land can occur once fracking fluids are removed.
Describe one economic benefit to society of using fracking to extract natural gas from shale. - ANS--
Development of a domestic energy resource (reducing foreign influences on price).
- Creation of jobs.