Revisiting Documentary "Gasland" and False Claims

In a 2010 documentary entitled “Gasland,” the process of hydraulic fracturing is portrayed as the catalyst for numerous problems across America. It is blamed for killing fish in rivers and for causing tap water contamination. But, is everything featured in the documentary "Gasland" accurate? 

The answer is no. In fact, "Gasland" promotes ideas about natural gas drilling that have been found to be false, inaccurate and misleading.

The documentary "Gasland" makes the preposterous claim that natural gas extraction is exempt from federal regulations. In actuality, the process of natural gas extraction is regulated by more than one entity. It is subject to a host of federal, state and local regulations that cover everything from initial permits to the construction of the wells and the water disposal.

One of the most unforgettable moments of the documentary is when a few individuals are interviewed about their tap water contamination. The insinuation is that because of natural gas drilling their water is so contaminated that it can actually be set on fire – which is then demonstrated, to the shock of the viewer. “Gasland” unmistakably points to natural gas drilling as the cause of the flaming tap water. As it turns out,