Daniel Jakubovitz: Conclusion

In lieu of federal rules, individual states have taken the responsibility of monitoring and regulating fracking. While this provides the benefit of catering to an individual state’s local geography and specific needs, it prevents broad, baseline national regulation from existing, which would benefit environmental protection. As the industry continues to boom, regulation and inspection will become an increasingly difficult burden placed upon the states’ shoulders.
Increased oversight and transparency from federal regulatory agencies would certainly improve fracking’s safety, and gain trust and support from local communities and politicians. Certain loopholes that prevent federal agencies from doing their required jobs are clearly detrimental. This fact becomes even more obvious as evidence emerges that challenges the integrity of the central EPA study that acts of proof as the safety of fracking and encouraged its continued growth. It is possible for fracking procedures to satisfy the needs of both the energy industry and environmentalists, but both sides need to be willing to compromise to allow a fair level of national regulation, just as any industry has, to ensure that the practice is being done correctly.