LM+Memo+31+-+broad+impact

The impact of this work extends beyond the academic realm in the following ways:
 * Energy Policy - The current energy practice in the U.S. is unsustainable. The country finds itself in a position where alternative fuel sources are becoming necessary, and shale gas is a domestic energy source, making it a marketable alternative in the eyes of many policy-makers. The impact of this work is to show that perhaps the benefits of shale gas are far outweighed by the human/social costs.
 * Human Health - Little work has been done on the health effects associated with the social and environmental stresses of fracking. This research contributes to that body of work, calling attention to the issue so that affected communities can achieve some kind of justice, as well as receive treatment for the health issues that have gone mostly unacknowledged by the industry.