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An old technique to tap a veritable sea of natural gas has ignited new controversy in the news, at regulatory agencies, and in the courts. Hydraulic fracturing, applied in a novel way to shale and other dense mineral formations, has unlocked natural-gas potential in the United States and other parts of the world that have historically been considered poor prospects for producing their own fossil fuels. But concerns have arisen that hydraulic fracturing could contaminate groundwater and pollute the air, and environmental groups worry that the chemicals used in "fracking" could lead to greater exposure to toxic substances. AEI is pleased to host a panel discussion to weigh the pros and cons of hydraulic fracturing, a technology that--depending on which side of the debate you fall on--is either our saving energy grace or a troubling new threat to environmental quality.