To Drill or Not to Drill

TIPS WebQuest

 

Richard Wheeler

Binghamton High School

Wheelerr@binghamtonschools.org

 

 

Introduction

You live in the area of Binghamton, NY, and your family owns a farm with 130 acres of beautiful, productive farmland that your family uses for their livelihood.  Your family has its own well to supply your household drinking water.  As you realize, your drinking water comes directly from the water underneath the ground.

 

Your family has had the opportunity to lease your farmland to a gas exploration company for a large sum of money due to your location over the rock formation commonly referred to as  Marcellus Shale .  Additionally, should the gas company decide to construct a productive gas well on your property, your family could become quite wealthy as a result of the royalties. 

 

 

 

However, there has been great discussion with the negative effects of gas exploration and gas drilling’s effects of pollution of the soil and groundwater.

The process of extracting natural gas from the shale layer is referred to hydraulic fracturing (fracking).  You have studied Earth Science in Mr. Wheeler’s class and understand the inherent risks with contaminated soil and groundwater pollution.

You have the background knowledge to perform a thorough investigation and analysis of the potential problem at task. 

 

 

TASK 

After completing your research on groundwater pollution and soil contamination, you will make a presentation to your colleagues during class time.  The presentation must include a visual display.  The display can compose of data charts, graphs, posters, a collage, VHS movie, a PowerPoint presentation, a video, or any format that works for you!  You may even include musical pieces to help you with your presentation.  

 

Be sure to follow the Public Policy Analyst (PPA).  A public policy is a government action usually intended to deal with a social problem. Every day policies are enacted in your school, city, state, country and throughout the world that will affect your life.

 

 

So…..Be creative!   Also, be sure that you save your notes on your research material and all of your worksheets.  You will need to submit them to your Mr. Wheeler.

 

 

PROCESS:

You may work in groups of up to 3 people on this project. Each member must have clearly defined roles and tasks. Use the “RESOURCE LINKS” located in the RESOURCES SECTION below to help you find data and solutions.  Be sure to complete the worksheet.

 

Ø  Please address these SEVEN   ITEMS in your presentation:

 

  1. What is the source where Binghamton’s obtains their drinking water?
  2. What are the chemical contaminants could potentially enter into Binghamton’s groundwater and soil?
  3. What are some of the health risks associated with the contaminants?
  4. What government agencies are involved with monitoring Binghamton’s water quality?
  5. What government agencies are involved with enforcement of water quality regulations?

.

  1. Please discuss how the public policy could be changed to help protect Binghamton’s water quality.  (Public Policy Analysis; PPA). 

 

  1. You should understand the current public policy regulating water quality and make recommendations to change or improve the policy.  (This is very important!)

 

Complete this WORKSHEET:  Group must complete one copy and submit to the instructor.

 

 

Resources

 

Ø  Science Public Policy Analyst

 

You must follow these Steps!

(Each step is a link if you need additional help)

  1. Define the problem
  2. Gather evidence
  3. Identify causes
  4. Evaluate a policy
  5. Develop solutions
  6. Select best solution

 

 

Ø  Student Resources for Social Problem

 

Ø New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

 

Ø  Protecting the Environment, Water Resources and Public Water Supplies  DEC's Regulatory Program and Permitting Process New York State's well-established regulatory program oversees drilling. DEC's Mineral Resources staff - averaging 22 years of experience per person - conducts a rigorous permitting process which protects the environment and landowner before the permit is issued, during drilling, when the well is plugged and when the site is restored.

 

Ø Gas Drillers in Race for Hearts and Land-   “NY Times”

 

Ø Western PA landowners regret deep gas wells deals Gasses bubbling out of the ground and into drinking wells and ponds- “The River Reporter"

 

Ø  Contact Elected Officials TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT                    THE FRAC ACT  We need your help to pass the FRAC Act - twin bills in the Senate (S 1215) and House (HR 2766) that remove the exemption to the Safe Drinking Water Act for fracking and call for the disclosure and monitoring of the chemicals used in the process. Contacting your elected officials is critical to its passage

 

Ø  Oil & Gas Accountability Project  works with tribal, urban and rural communities to protect their homes and the environment from the devastating impacts of oil and gas development

 

Ø  GASLAND, The Movie- has maps, stories, and narrative videos

 

Ø  DIAGRAM  Gas Well to protect  ground water diagram

 

 

EVALUATION

 

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

4

 

PROBLEM

DEFINED

Problem not defined

problem defined but not clearly

Problem clearly defined in 3-4 sentences

Problem clearly defined in one paragraph

EVIDENCE GATHERED

Evidence gathered from one source, not clearly defined

Evidence gathered from 2-3 sources, not clearly defined

Evidence gathered from3-4 sources, clearly defined

Evidence gathered from 5-6 sources, clearly defined

CAUSES

DEFINED

1 cause defined, unclear explanation

2 causes defined, slightly unclear explanation

3 causes defined, clearly explained

4 causes defined, clearly explained

PUBLIC

POLICY

No existing public policy evaluated

Existing public policy briefly stated, but not evaluated

Existing public policy stated and evaluated

Existing public policy stated and evaluated in detail

PODSSIBLE

SOLUTION

No solution developed

1-2 possible solutions developed

3-4 possible solutions developed

5 or more solutions developed

SELECTED SOLUTION

 No solution selected

Solution selected, but not clearly explained

Solution selected, and clearly explained

More then one solution selected and clearly explained

ORAL

PRESENTATION

Participation

Visual tools

Accuracy

Participation

Visual tools

Accuracy

Participation

Visual tools

Accuracy

Participation

Visual tools

Accuracy

 

 

STANDARDS

 

Math, Science, Technology

Standard 1 - Analysis, Inquiry, and Design

Students will use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry, and engineering design, as appropriate, to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions.

 

Math, Science, Technology

Standard 2 - Information Systems

Students will access, generate, process, and transfer information using appropriate technologies.

 

Math, Science, Technology

Information Systems
Key Idea 1

Information technology is used to retrieve, process, and communicate information and as a tool to enhance learning.

 

English Language Arts

 

Standard 1 - Language for Information and Understanding

Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding - As listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas; discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.

 

Standard 4 - Language for Social Interaction  

Students will read, write, listen, and speak for social interaction - Students will use oral and written language for effective social communication with a wide variety of people. As readers and listeners, they will use the social communications of others to enrich their understanding of people and their views.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Although unseen, our ground water is a tremendous valuable resource.

From this lesson, you should become aware of the source of our drinking water, the dangers of polluting the sources, and the governing agencies that monitor our water supply. 

 

Public policy plays an important role in our life.  You should be able to evaluate current public policy and be able to make recommendations for improvement.

 

 

Sources

http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/205.html

http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/