Prof: I want to be proved wrong becasue that would mean the situation is not as dire as I think it is. Also, sign me up for impeachment of our (not so) beloved governor.
Franklin: here is my understanding of the problems with flairing - Aside from the roaring noise all through the night and the huge -sometimes up to 100 foot high- open flame that lights up a normally peaceful night sky, a large number of pollutants are released into the air during the flaring process, making it an undesirable practice. Included in these airborne pollutants are the chemicals used to frac the well, as well as any of 5-dozen other pollutants including the following: acetalhyde, acrolein, benzene, ethyl benzene, formaldehyde, hexane, naphthalene, propylene, toluene, and xylenes. Not all of these are burned off in a flare and the air can have a putrid odor that fills the small valleys