fracketeering

dinkum commented on the word fracketeering

WORD: fracketeering

DEFINITION: the shady, fly-by-night practice of extracting shale oil and shale oil gas from a property and -- after pocketing the profits -- disappearing into thin air before the extent of groundwater contamination on the property (and on the neighboring properties) becomes known and the extractor held liable. Also, as is the case under the RICO statutes -- at least, in a more perfect world -- fracketeering charges could be brought against government agencies which collude with a fracker, when that agency "knew or should have known" that the fracker's practices would produce a legacy of groundwater contamination.

RELATED WORDS: frack, fracks, fracking, fracker, fracket, fracketeer, motherfracker

EXAMPLE:

' I say we round up the gas companies, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett and charge them all with racketeering.

' Or at least ... fracketeering.

' For the last several years, it’s been difficult for many Pennsylvania residents who live near fracking sites to understand the treatment they’ve received from the state DEP. Here’s the sequence: Gas companies set up a fracking site; residents’ drinking water suddenly, out of the blue, turns a smelly, cloudy brown; residents ask for help. DEP tests the water, then, months/years later says, “It’s fine. Drink it.” And the gas companies set up more sites . . . 

September 28, 2013