Fracking | Property Contamination

Fracking Property Contamination Lawsuits

If you’ve noticed your water turning brown or strange odors in the air after a fracking operation moved in nearby, you might not be imagining things. Thousands of property owners across the country are dealing with contamination from hydraulic fracturing, and many don’t realize they have legal options to fight back and get compensated for their losses.

Investigating fracking pollution & industrial property damage claims

Hydraulic fracturing can be devastating for neighboring properties. The process pumps millions of gallons of water mixed with sand and chemicals deep underground to crack rock formations and release oil or gas. The problem? Those chemicals don’t always stay where they’re supposed to.

Property owners near fracking sites report contaminated wells with water that smells like chemicals, looks discolored, or even catches fire when you hold a lighter near it. We’re talking about benzene and dozens of other harmful substances that companies often won’t even disclose publicly. When these contaminants seep into your drinking water, it could be dangerous for your family’s health.

Beyond water problems, there’s the air quality issue. The drilling equipment, flaring operations, and chemicals released during fracking create air pollution that affects entire neighborhoods. People living near these sites report respiratory problems, persistent headaches, and constant worry about what they’re breathing.

The Real-World Impact on Your Property and Life

Your home is probably your biggest investment, and fracking operations can destroy that value overnight. Try selling a house when the water well is contaminated or there’s an industrial drilling site visible from your backyard. Potential buyers run the other direction, leaving you stuck with a property you might not even want to live in anymore.

The health concerns are even more serious. Families dealing with contaminated water often face skin irritations, stomach problems, and respiratory issues. Some people develop more serious conditions after years of exposure. The stress of not knowing whether your water is safe to drink or bathe in takes a real emotional toll.

Then there’s the financial burden. You’re suddenly buying bottled water by the case or installing filtration systems that may not even work. If you’re a farmer, contaminated water can kill crops and livestock. The costs add up quickly, and it’s not fair that you should have to bear them when someone else’s industrial activity caused the problem.

What Are Potential Damages in a Fracking Property Contamination Case?

• Diminished Property Value: Property owners may experience a decrease in the value of their real estate due to concerns about contamination and the potential health and environmental risks associated with fracking operations nearby.
• Property Remediation Costs: Property owners may incur expenses related to cleaning up or mitigating contamination on their land. This could involve the removal of contaminated soil or groundwater treatment to restore the property’s safety and usability.
• Loss of Use: If the contamination renders the property unusable, property owners may be entitled to damages for the loss of use of their land during the cleanup or due to long-term contamination.
• Healthcare Costs: If residents or property occupants suffer health issues as a result of exposure to contaminated water or air, they may seek compensation for medical expenses.
• Property Damage: Contamination can cause damage to structures or personal property on the affected land. Property owners can seek compensation for the repair or replacement of these items.
• Loss of Income: If the contaminated property is used for commercial purposes, such as farming, the contamination can lead to reduced or lost income. Property owners may be entitled to compensation for this loss.
• Emotional Distress: Living with the knowledge that one’s property is contaminated can lead to emotional distress and anxiety. Property owners may seek damages for the emotional toll caused by the contamination.
• Environmental Cleanup Costs: In some cases, property owners may be responsible for environmental cleanup costs related to contamination on their land, and they may seek reimbursement for these expenses.
• Punitive Damages: In cases where the responsible party’s actions are deemed particularly reckless or intentional, punitive damages may be awarded as a way to punish the responsible party and deter similar conduct in the future.
• Injunctions: In some cases, property owners may seek court orders to stop fracking operations near their property to prevent further contamination.

If you believe your property has been contaminated due to fracking activities, it’s essential to consult with an attorney who specializes in environmental and property contamination law to assess your situation and determine the potential damages you may be able to pursue.

Industrial Pollution & Illness

Benzene Exposure Feared in Residential Communities from Fracking Pollution. Contamination leads to AML and MDS cases.

Ohio and other states with fracking potential have been dealing with the environmental consequences of lucrative oil and gas production. Recently, a Colorado family, with a reported 158 fracking wells within a one-mile radius of their home and children’s school, are questioning how they can live a healthy lifestyle when toxins like benzene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene are polluting their bodies and home.

A six-year-old boy has tested positive for benzene exposure in Erie, Colorado, due to fracking pollution surrounding them most of the day and night. Their health is seriously compromised, and it is clear what is causing the issue.

Oil and gas companies like to downplay the risks of their energy harvesting, though at the same time, studies have told the real story for years: Benzene and other chemicals used in the fracking process are known cancer-causing agents, and fracking pollution is a serious threat to public health.

In the case of the Colorado exposure, a doctor conducted a volatile organic compounds (VOC) blood level test on the aforementioned boy and showed he is in the 85th percentile for benzene and two other cancer-causing chemicals—ethylbenzene and o-xylene. The family has alerted the media, as well as the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, though legal action may be the only course to ultimately compensate the family for the past and future damage of the benzene exposure.

Fracking Contamination May Cause Cancer

Benzene is a naturally-occurring part of crude oil and gasoline and is known by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) as a likely carcinogen.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, more than 80,000 oil and gas wells in Ohio were stimulated with hydraulic fracturing from the 1950s to 2014. In 2020 the energy industry shows no sign of slowing.

Benzene can cause the bone marrow not to produce enough red blood cells, leading to anemia, as well as damage the immune system by changing blood levels of antibodies and the loss of white blood cells.

The health effects of Benzene on a child can be even more perilous, and a major cause for concern for those living near fracking sites. Recent studies suggest links to childhood leukemia (Acute Myeloid Leukemia), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and other blood-related cancers like multiple myeloma and lymphoma in adults.

Building Your Case Against Drilling Companies‍

If you’re dealing with fracking contamination, documentation is everything. Start with water testing from an independent laboratory, not one suggested by the drilling company. You need comprehensive testing that looks for the full range of potential contaminants. If you have old test results from before drilling started, that’s gold for your case because it proves your water was clean before they arrived.

Take photos and videos of everything. Document any sign of discolored water or dead plants with dates. If you’re experiencing health problems, see a doctor and make sure they record your symptoms and any potential connection to environmental exposure.

Keep every receipt related to the contamination, including water deliveries, filtration systems, medical bills, and hotel stays if you had to leave your home.