However, the shale rock containing natural gas is separated from underground water aquifers by impermeable layers of rock that do not allow any hydraulic fracturing fluids to migrate into underground water aquifers.

FORBES: The Sierra Club Fails An Environmental Consistency Test

The assertion is that hydraulic fracturing fluids, which are injected at high speed and high pressure to create cracks in the shale rock that traps natural gas, will seep into underground water aquifers.

FORBES: The Sierra Club Fails An Environmental Consistency Test

There have been some minor instances of hydraulic fracturing fluids reaching non-drinking groundwater, but these occurred due to factors such as above-ground pipe leaks that have nothing to do with the hydraulic fracturing process itself.

FORBES: The Sierra Club Fails An Environmental Consistency Test

Even if migration of hydraulic fracturing fluids into water aquifers were possible, hydraulic fracturing fluids are typically 90% water, 9% sand, and less than 1% other compounds, many of which are common household products that appear in foods anyway.

FORBES: The Sierra Club Fails An Environmental Consistency Test

In its review of incidents of drinking water well contamination believed to be associated with hydraulic fracturing, EPA found no confirmed cases that are linked to fracturing fluid injection into CBM wells or subsequent underground movement of fracturing fluids.

FORBES: EPA's Fracking Hysteria

Texas became the first state in the union to require well-by-well disclosure of all ingredients of fracturing fluids being used anywhere in the state when Governor Rick Perry signed into law House Bill 3328, the Texas Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Disclosure bill, in June, 2011.

FORBES: Clearing The Air On Hydraulic Fracturing Laws In Texas

Instead, we have seen a string of reports that focus on the aspect of the law that allows hydraulic fracturing contractors to claim certain elements of their fluids as proprietary.

FORBES: Why the Texas Disclosure Law Really Does Work

"Hydraulic fracturing in a well for shale gas development, which involves injection of fluids to fracture the shale and release the gas up the well, has been confirmed as the cause for small felt seismic events at one location in the world, " the report states.

CNN: Debate over fracking, quakes gets louder