Trucks used in the fracking industry sit at a truck stop in Odessa, Texas, on February 4.
Trucks used in the fracking industry sit at a truck stop in Odessa, Texas, on February 4.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Pumpjacks and wells churn away at an oil field on the Monterey shale formation in March 2014. Opponents of fracking in California cite increased water usage amid a devastating drought and possible chemical pollution as primary reasons for denouncing the operations. There are also concerns about fracking disturbing the already volatile, 800-mile-long San Andreas Fault.
Pumpjacks and wells churn away at an oil field on the Monterey shale formation in March 2014. Opponents of fracking in California cite increased water usage amid a devastating drought and possible chemical pollution as primary reasons for denouncing the operations. There are also concerns about fracking disturbing the already volatile, 800-mile-long San Andreas Fault.
David McNew/Getty Images
Steve Lipsky of Parker County, Texas, near Dallas, holds photographs of his well water burning during a briefing organized by anti-fracking groups in Washington in February 2014.
Steve Lipsky of Parker County, Texas, near Dallas, holds photographs of his well water burning during a briefing organized by anti-fracking groups in Washington in February 2014.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
A fracking facility and its working wells serve as a backdrop to field workers picking potatoes in Shafter, California, in June 2013.
A fracking facility and its working wells serve as a backdrop to field workers picking potatoes in Shafter, California, in June 2013.
Sacramento Bee/MCT/LANDOV
A pumpjack drills for oil at the Monterey shale formation in California in April 2013. The U.S. government estimates that as many as 15 billion barrels of oil could lie within the formation, but most of it is not retrievable without fracking.
A pumpjack drills for oil at the Monterey shale formation in California in April 2013. The U.S. government estimates that as many as 15 billion barrels of oil could lie within the formation, but most of it is not retrievable without fracking.
LUCY NICHOLSON/reuters/LANDOV
Steve Lipsky lights water flowing from a well spigot on his family's property in Parker County, Texas, near Weatherford, in November 2012. Lipsky says a fracking operation contaminated the well.
Steve Lipsky lights water flowing from a well spigot on his family's property in Parker County, Texas, near Weatherford, in November 2012. Lipsky says a fracking operation contaminated the well.
LM Otero/ap
A worker monitors water pumping pressure and temperature at an Encana Oil & Gas fracking site in Rifle, Colorado, in March 2013.
A worker monitors water pumping pressure and temperature at an Encana Oil & Gas fracking site in Rifle, Colorado, in March 2013.
Brennan Linsley/ap
Signs protesting the process of fracking are posted near Callicoon Center, New York, in January 2012. Although oil companies hail fracking as an innovative way to boost gas reserves, the process has drawn a fair number of detractors.
Signs protesting the process of fracking are posted near Callicoon Center, New York, in January 2012. Although oil companies hail fracking as an innovative way to boost gas reserves, the process has drawn a fair number of detractors.
Les Stone/reuters/LANDOV
Gas flares at a water facility at the Niobrara oil shale formation in Colorado in May 2012.
Gas flares at a water facility at the Niobrara oil shale formation in Colorado in May 2012.
Gary C. Caskey/upi/LANDOV
A gas pipeline protrudes from the ground at a farm outside Dimock, Pennsylvania, in March 2012. Proponents of fracking say petroleum extraction is good for the economy and boosts national security by providing more energy sources.
A gas pipeline protrudes from the ground at a farm outside Dimock, Pennsylvania, in March 2012. Proponents of fracking say petroleum extraction is good for the economy and boosts national security by providing more energy sources.
JIM LO SCALZO/epa/LANDOV
Rig workers drill a saltwater well to get fluids to be used in a fracking operation in Anthony, Kansas, in February 2012.
Rig workers drill a saltwater well to get fluids to be used in a fracking operation in Anthony, Kansas, in February 2012.
Wichita Eagle/MCT/LANDOV
A worker marks pipes being used at Chesapeake Energy's fracking site in Carroll County, Ohio, in October 2011.
A worker marks pipes being used at Chesapeake Energy's fracking site in Carroll County, Ohio, in October 2011.
The Plain Dealer /Landov
Traffic generated by an oil boom lines the main street in Watford City, North Dakota, on October, 11, 2011. The Bakken oil formation, which stretches from South Dakota into Saskatchewan and could contain more than 4 billion barrels of oil, has sparked an oil boom in towns like Watford City.
Traffic generated by an oil boom lines the main street in Watford City, North Dakota, on October, 11, 2011. The Bakken oil formation, which stretches from South Dakota into Saskatchewan and could contain more than 4 billion barrels of oil, has sparked an oil boom in towns like Watford City.
Matthew Staver/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A crew constructs a 10-inch gas pipeline outside Watford City, North Dakota in October 2011. In fracking, water, sand and chemicals are injected under high pressure into a gas well.
A crew constructs a 10-inch gas pipeline outside Watford City, North Dakota in October 2011. In fracking, water, sand and chemicals are injected under high pressure into a gas well.
Matthew Staver/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A Halliburton employee monitors a fracking operation outside Hope, New Mexico, in June 2007. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is the process of breaking through dense shale to unlock natural gas.
A Halliburton employee monitors a fracking operation outside Hope, New Mexico, in June 2007. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is the process of breaking through dense shale to unlock natural gas.
Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images