Unit 6 Fracking FRQ Redo FLIP Lesson

Introduction

• Review of unit six FRQ regarding natural gas from rock.

• Key focus: commonly missed items and misconceptions based on student writing.

Part A: Water-Related Environmental Problems from Fracking

• Objective: Identify and describe two water-related environmental problems (4 points total).

  • 1 point for each identification and description of problems.

• Commonly identified problems:

  • Groundwater Contamination

    • Fracking chemicals can contaminate drinking water or groundwater (abbreviated as DW and GW).

    • Liquid waste from fracking can accumulate in lagoons, leaching into groundwater.

    • Excessive wastewater due to fracking can lead to contamination during infiltration.

    • Methane (CH4) can escape into the atmosphere or seep into groundwater during drilling.

  • Excessive Water Use

    • Overdraft of aquifers due to high water consumption in fracking process.

    • Increased competition for limited water sources affecting drinking water and agriculture.

Part B: Environmental Benefits of Natural Gas Compared to Coal

• Objective: Discuss two environmental benefits of using natural gas rather than coal (2 points).

  • Must provide comparisons regarding specific pollutants.

  • Benefits:

    • Fewer Sulfur Oxides (SOx)

      • Natural gas combustion produces less SOx, leading to reduced acid rain formation (chemical reaction with water).

      • Acid rain can occur in various forms (rain, snow, fog, etc.).

    • Fewer Nitrous Oxides (NOx)

      • Natural gas emits less NOx, reducing incidents of acid rain and photochemical smog.

    • Lower Mercury Emissions

      • Natural gas generally releases negligible mercury compared to coal, mitigating health hazards.

    • Reduced Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

      • Less CO2 emission contributes to lesser impact on global climate change.

Part C: Environmental Drawbacks not related to Water Use

• Objective: Describe two environmental drawbacks not associated with water use (2 points).

  • Considerations: Read the prompt carefully; only the first two points will be graded.

  • Drawbacks:

    • Habitat Loss/Destruction

      • Construction of fracking facilities causes habitat fragmentation and loss due to the need for roads and other infrastructures, resulting in decreased biodiversity.

    • Methane Leakage

      • Methane, a greenhouse gas, may leak during drilling, contributing to global climate change.

    • Vehicle Emissions

      • Construction vehicles and machinery combust fossil fuels, adding CO2 emissions.

    • Noise Pollution

      • Fracking activities generate significant noise pollution affecting nearby ecosystems.

    • Seismic Activity

      • Increased risk of earthquakes linked to drilling and fracking activities.

Part D: Economic Benefits of Fracking

• Objective: Identify one economic benefit of utilizing fracking for natural gas extraction.

  • Clarification: Distinguish economic benefits from environmental costs (2 points).

  • Benefits:

    • Job Creation

      • Fracking initiatives create numerous jobs within local communities.

    • Domestic Energy Production

      • Leads to reduced prices due to decreased reliance on foreign energy sources; supported by governmental incentives and tax provisions.

    • Financial Gains for Landowners

      • Landowners may receive substantial payments from energy companies for mineral rights.

Part E: Negative Environmental Impacts of Nuclear Energy

• Objective: Discuss two negative environmental impacts of nuclear energy (2 points).

  • Common Impacts:

    • Spent Nuclear Waste Management

      • High-level radioactive waste lacks sufficient storage solutions, posing long-term environmental risks.

    • Thermal Pollution

      • Water discharged from cooling towers and ponds carries excessive heat, leading to increased metabolic stress on aquatic life and reduced biodiversity.

      • Can create hypoxic conditions, dangerous for species reliant on certain oxygen levels, ultimately impacting the ecosystem.