Human: How is the fracking process going to affect the environment? Assistant: 
The process of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," involves pumping large volumes of water, sand and chemicals into shale formations at high pressure to create fractures in the rock. This releases natural gas from the shale, which can then be collected and used as fuel. While this method has been shown to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, it has also raised concerns about its potential environmental impacts. These include groundwater contamination, air pollution, and increased seismic activity. Additionally, there have been reports that fracking can cause small earthquakes, although the scientific community remains divided on whether this is a real phenomenon.