[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]EPA draft assessment finds that hydraulic fracturing activities in the U.S. not causing “widespread systemic impacts” on drinking water resources[/title][fusion_text]Monday, June 8th 2015
An EPA draft assessment finds that hydraulic fracturing activities in the U.S. are carried out in a way that have not resulted in “widespread systemic impacts” on drinking water resources. However, the agency said that there are “potential vulnerabilities in the water lifecycle” that could affect drinking water. EPA said its review of available data sources, prepared at the request of Congress, found specific instances where well integrity and fracking-related waste water management affected drinking water resources, but they were small compared to the large number of hydraulically fractured oil and gas wells across the country. In March 2015, the FracTracker Alliance estimated more than 1.1 million wells in the U.S. had been drilled using hydraulic fracturing. EPA said its report provides information about potential vulnerabilities, some of which are not unique to hydraulic fracturing, to drinking water resources, but was not designed to be a list of documented impacts. The agency said its assessment follows the lifecycle of water used for fracking from acquisition, chemical mixing at the well pad site, well injection of fracking fluids, the collection of hydraulic fracturing wastewater (including flowback and produced water), and wastewater treatment and disposal. Also released today were nine peer-reviewed EPA scientific reports. These reports were a part of EPA’s overall hydraulic fracturing drinking water study and contributed to the findings outlined in the draft assessment. Over 20 peer-reviewed articles or reports were published as part of this study. EPA noted in a news release that states play a primary role in regulating most natural gas and oil development, and that its authority is limited by federal laws including the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Where EPA’s exemptions exist, states may have authority to regulate unconventional oil and gas extraction activities under their own state laws, the agency said. The study will be finalized after review by the Science Advisory Board and public review and comment. The agency said Federal Register Notice with information on the SAB review and how to comment on the draft assessment will be published on Friday June 5.
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