Since the early 2000s, following new technological advances in fracking and the discovery of large shale reserves across the country, fracking has substantially increased domestic energy production. Shale gas production increased 20% from 2005 to 2012, promoting more prosperous economic demand for domestic energy solutions (Pritchard). As fracking expands, demand for transportation vehicles, fuel, housing and water also increases. Additionally, the increase in fracking has significantly increased employment. In a country struggling to recover from a recession, good-paying jobs are easily accessible in the booming oil sector. This is evident in the prosperous state of North Dakota, where the unemployment rate has fallen to 2.8 percent (Gottesdiener). However, while this industrial expansion creates temporary jobs, repairing the consequences of mismanagement could also cost millions of dollars. Fracking has the potential to create environmental harm such as water contamination, radioactive spills, and increased seismic activity that could cost thousands of dollars in damages. Remediation of drinking water contamination is difficult and expensive and ultimately rarely attempted. Furthermore, the cost of replacing drinking water in contaminated homes and communities also costs a significant amount of money (The Costs of