Which statement best describes common fossil fuel extraction methods and their environmental implications?

• A. Coal mining (surface/underground) always has no environmental impact.
• B. Oil drilling primarily improves wildlife habitats in deserts.
• C. Natural gas extraction via fracking has no water contamination or methane leakage.
• D. Coal mining can cause land degradation; oil drilling can cause spills; natural gas extraction via fracking can cause water contamination and methane leaks.

Answer: (D)

Understanding how fossil fuel extraction affects the environment. Coal mining, whether surface or underground, disturbs and often degrades the land itself, with issues like habitat loss, soil erosion, and water pollution from mine runoff. Oil drilling can lead to spills that contaminate soil and water and harm ecosystems. Natural gas extraction via fracking uses large volumes of water and chemicals underground; this process can risk groundwater contamination and, importantly, emit methane through leaks and venting, adding to climate warming. Because each method carries these real environmental risks, the statement that coal mining can degrade land, oil drilling can cause spills, and fracking can contaminate water and leak methane best captures the actual environmental implications. The other options either claim no impact or misstate benefits, which doesn’t align with the evidence.