Abstract
The benefits and costs of resource extraction are currently being hotly debated in the case of shale gas development (commonly known as fracking). Colorado provides a unique research environment given its long history of conventional oil and gas extraction and, most recently, shale gas development. To de fine exposure, I utilize detailed vital statistics and mother's residential address to define close proximity to drilling activity. Using a difference-in-differences model that compares mothers residing within 1 km of a well head versus 1-5 km, I find that proximity to wells reduces birth weight and gestation length on average and increases the prevalence of low birth weight and premature birth. I also find an increase in gestational diabetes and hypertension for mothers living near wells. These results are robust to multiple specifications and suggest that policies to mitigate against the risks of living near oil and gas development may be warranted.
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