Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" is one of the most contentious environmental issues facing the world with potentially significant benefits to economies but also severe risks to environments. The interpretation of the benefits and risks from hydraulic fracturing is partly the result of an entanglement among a range of factors including values and scientific expertise. This paper analyzes this entanglement using data from a survey conducted in 2013 of policy actors in Colorado who are directly and indirectly involved in the issue of hydraulic fracturing. The results provide evidence that group affiliation and values are more consistently associated with positions about the risks and benefits of hydraulic fracturing than scientific expertise.
