Campaign:
Fracking Gone Wrong: Finding A Better Way
Fracking.
Fracking is a dangerous way of getting oil and gas and a shortsighted energy strategy. It's poisoning our air and water. We can find a better way—one that protects our health and gives us clean, safe energy sources that never run out.
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North Dakota and Fracking


Get Involved in the Latest Fight in North Dakota

Bismarck
Bakken Watch

Groups Fighting Fracking in North Dakota

Frack Target: Bakken Formation

Water Resources at Risk: Williston Basin, including Lake Sakakawea, Missouri River, White Earth River, Little Muddy River, Little Missouri River and others

Gas development has skyrocketed in recent years in North Dakota, causing the state to surpass Alaska in oil production. This oil rush has had a negative impact on both environment and community resources. In 2011 alone, North Dakota reported more than 1,000 accidental releases of oil, drilling wastewater or other fluids; though many more releases went unreported when companies illegally dumped toxic fluid. Of these spills, in about two-thirds of cases, material was not contained to the accident site and leaked into the ground or waterways. On the home front, farmers are impacted when spills, some as large as 24 acres, destroy cropland possibly for decades to come. Ranchers are worried that local water supplies affected by fracking waste have had a noticeable effect on the health of their livestock and animals. Additionally, the oil boom has strained local resources, drove housing prices up, and disrupted rural communities.

Below is a map of some of the high profile incidents ("fraccidents") related to the country's gas drilling boom that have already occurred in North Dakota. Click on any fraccident to learn more.


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Fraccidents Map in a larger map

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