A review of recent peer-reviewed studies reveal that most found negative impact of shale and tight gas development on water quality, air quality, and health. The studies did not focus solely on fracking but on the entirety of risks associated with shale and tight gas development.
http://psehealthyenergy.org/data/Databa ... _.27_1.pdf

The industry may not be fairly representing the science to those it wishes to obtain leases to drill for shale gas.http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/6724162

Now does it mean no fracking? No, the risks (hard to quantity without going through each study)have to be balanced against the benefits (substantial)of cheap energy, but communities that are allowing fracking should know what they are getting into.

When oil is at $100 a barrel, it makes more sense than when it is at $60 a barrel.

I would say that the US 'safeguards' are much less than those that the UK is imposing.