Coal bed methane is being developed rapidly in Alaska. Explore one of these webs

Question

Coal bed methane is being developed rapidly in Alaska. Explore one of these websites and tell us something about what you learn... http://pubs.usgs.gov/dds/dds-077/dds77text.html http://www.nativeamericanenergy.com/operations/coal-bed-methane http://www.petroleumnews.com/pntruncate/280821971.shtml Focus on one possible example of gas or oil development (Nenana, Yukon Flats, Chukchi Sea, etc). What would you expect to be the effects on the water supply in the local communities? Do you think it is possible to retain the ability to harvest wild foods with oil and gas development nearby? Do we have to trade environment for economy, or do you think we can figure out how to have them both healthy?

Explanation / Answer

Hydrocarbon (Coal bed methane) is found in Alaska but its extaction will lead to environmental problems like water pollution.

Water in local communities will get contaminated. The quality of water such as concentration of total dissolved solids and location of coalbed gas production where recharge areas are juxtaposed to brackish-marine bodies of water (sea, ocean, bay) may prevent surface disposal or reinjection, which may contaminate ground-water supply.

No, since water in the area is getting polluted, it is impossible to harvest wild foods with oil and gas development nearby.

We can figure out how to be friendly with environment as well as economy. For example, we can look for renewable energy resources like solar energy. Solar Energy alone can fulfill US energy needs.

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