Inside ‘Trump Force One’ It seems that fracking may cause damage to the Scotch whisky industry, which supports more than 10,500 Scottish jobs.
Will fracking damage Scotland’s whisky industry?
Though there are no whisky distilleries currently located in this area, campaigners 38 Degrees are concerned about fracking activity that could be rolled out in other areas of Scotland after the public consultation is finished on May 31st.
Construction of an access road for hydraulic fracturing operations in Northwest England.
Photo: AFP/Paul Ellis Fracking for shale gas has been shown to cause damage to water supplies in parts of the U.S.s, as well as contribute to droughts due to the vast quantities of water used to dig up resources.
In the Scotsman article, Professor Andrew Watterson of the Centre for Public Health and Population Health Research at the University of Stirling worried about a Scottish fracking industry.
‘The German beer industry has long expressed major concerns that the potential for water contamination from fracking for gas posed a significant risk to their industry," he said.
Environment Protection Agency has also recently acknowledged there are currently no guarantees fracking may not lead to water pollution by toxic chemicals used in the process.’ Continued from page 1 The Brooklyn Startup Bringing Eyewear Manufacturing Back To America Renowned whisky expert and author Charles MacLean certainly doesn’t want to see his favorite drink under threat.
"Even the potential of water contamination from fracking in Scotland would be a seriously worrying development for the whisky industry and Scotland’s economy."
And as long as fracking is conducted far from distillery water supplies, it’s unlikely that whisky we like drinking will be affected.

Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane’s announcement last week that the government has decided to proceed with shale gas extraction in the Karoo has been slammed by industry experts on the basis of its negative consequences for the environment and the region’s water supply.
Five applications for fracking licences have been submitted so far by Shell (3), Falcon Oil and Gas and Bundu Gas and Oil Exploration.
"There simply is not enough water in the Karoo for the purpose of fracking as well as agriculture and human consumption.
The decision to approve fracking comes at a time when the Western Cape is dealing with water restrictions," Hellyer said.
Wim Jonker Klunne, who is on the advisory board for Energy Revolution Africa, which will form part of the African Utility Week conference in May, noted that while gas might be a viable option for South Africa’s energy mix, "I see too many issues around shale gas from the Karoo to justify its exploration.
The impact on local livelihoods and available water will not justify the exploration of shale gas, particularly as many other (renewable) options are available."
In his speech Zwane gave the assurance that the government was committed to developing shale gas "in a manner that is considerate of the country’s water resources and environmental sustainability".
He said the decision to proceed with the development of shale gas in the Karoo was based on the balance of available scientific evidence.
"The finalisation of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act amendments will also help to expedite the development of shale gas.
He estimated the recoverable resource of shale gas at up to 50-trillion cubic feet in the Karoo basin especially in the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape provinces.

`Zero chance´ of water contamination, says boss of frack site energy firm.
Third Energy, the UK firm that last year secured permission to use an existing gas well near the North Yorkshire village of Kirby Misperton to run test fracks almost two miles underground, said of demonstrators: “We respect their right to protest but they should respect our right to operate.” The company says it will begin fracking at its KM8 well later this year and director of operations John Dewar is confident he can counter the continuing criticisms of the controversial technique.
But campaigners opposed to Third Energy’s plans for KM8 reacted angrily to Mr Dewar’s insistence that the well was drilled without local disruption and that the fracking operation will continue to have minimal impact.
Mr Dewar defended his firm’s actions standing next to the head of the KM8 well – a small, red valve mechanism looking not much bigger than a washing machine.
The well was sunk for conventional gas extraction in 2013.
Asked what his message was to protesters, some of whom have set up an anti-fracking camp nearby, he said: “My message to them is that, if they’re genuinely concerned, then come and see us, talk to us.
We respect their right to protest but they should respect our right to operate.” He said: “We were able to drill the well without causing any disruption.
“On this particular site there is absolutely zero chance, and I say zero carefully, of contamination,” he said.
Mr Dewar said the bore hole will be fully sealed from the surrounding rock and the aquifer, which is not used for drinking water extraction in the area – is much shallower and the rocks used for the test fracks thousands of feet below.
“He visited a lady who was kept awake all night by the 24/7 drilling and promised double glazing and a job for her husband, this is all on the public record of the planning committee meeting.

‘Zero chance’ of water contamination, says boss of frack site energy firm.
An energy firm preparing to restart fracking for shale gas in the UK later this year says its door is open to anyone with genuine concerns about its operations at the "most heavily monitored piece of real estate in the UK".
But Third Energy, the UK firm that last year secured permission to use an existing gas well near the North Yorkshire village of Kirby Misperton to run test fracks almost two miles underground, said of demonstrators: "We respect their right to protest but they should respect our right to operate."
The Kirby Misperton application was the first to be approved in the UK since 2011, when the industry was effectively halted after minor earth tremors in Lancashire were attributed to test fracking.
The well head itself is an understated focus for a nationwide controversy, a small, red valve mechanism looking not much bigger than a washing machine.
Asked what his message was to protesters, some of whom have set up an anti-fracking camp nearby, Mr Dewar said: " My message to them is that, if they’re genuinely concerned, then come and see us, talk to us.
"If they’re coming just to cause disruption, my message to them is that we will still go ahead.
"The hydraulic fracturing operation will take less time, be less disruptive."
One of the continuing concerns about fracking Mr Dewar is most keen to counter is the claim it could contaminate the water supply.
Third Energy’s plan for KM8 was approved last year by North Yorkshire County Council.

More than four years after a WPX Energy Appalachia wastewater impoundment leaked and contaminated the drinking water of five Westmoreland County families, the shale gas company has agreed to pay the state a $1.2 million penalty.
But the families still don’t have sufficient, permanent water supplies, said Melissa Marshall, community advocate for the Mountain Watershed Association, an environmental organization.
It is next to Donegal Lake, which drains into Loyalhanna Creek, a tributary of the Allegheny River.
“We quickly worked to rectify the situation from its onset, immediately emptying and ultimately closing a containment pond for recycled water as soon as we became aware of potential issues,” Mr. Swan said.
“Importantly, no individual’s health was ever at risk even by the most stringent state and EPA standards,” he said.
The company also installed single-faucet water filtration systems in the five homes, but according to Ms. Marshall, those systems don’t provide enough water.
The families, who live near Stahlstown, must supplement the filtered water with bottled water.
“The filtration systems are completely insufficient in providing for the water needs of the families, and that’s been true for years,” Ms. Marshall said.
This settlement doesn’t help the residents, who are still in dire need.” She said DEP consent orders issued over the past three years requiring WPX to replace the permanent residential water supplies don’t specify the amounts of water the company needs to provide, and the filtration systems the company installed in the five residences don’t come close to meeting the families’ needs.
“My interview notes say that on the high end, one family estimated the reverse osmosis system made three gallons every six hours.