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A van powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) on display January 27, 2011 at the 2011 Washington Auto Show in Washington, DC.

Hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, isn’t a household term but the process by which chemicals are injected into wells to free up large supplies of natural gas around the United States. Hydrofracking has been used by oil and gas companies across the country who are injecting all kinds of substances, from coffee grounds to lead, into rock formations deep under ground. Communities close by these natural gas wells have expressed concern about the use of toxic substances, and it turns out there might be reason to worry. A report by Democrats on a Congressional subcommittee found that gas companies are injecting large amounts of toxic, carcinogenic and other hazardous chemicals, such as benzene, into the ground. These chemicals can leak into ground water supplies, and the contaminants that are pumped back up to the surface are not being properly disposed of. Is the potential natural gas as alternative energy bonanza on American soil worth the use of risky chemicals to get it out?

Guests:

Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colorado’s 1st District; ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations and co-author of the Congressional report on hydrofracking

Mohamed Soliman, chair & professor of petroleum engineering at Texas Tech University