EPA TO STUDY GAS DRILLING

EPA to scrutinize water risk from fracturing
Tom Fowler (w/Jennifer Dlouhy), March 18, 2010 (Houston Chronicle)

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will do a detailed study of hydraulic fracturing, the technique used to extract natural gas from dense shale formations, to determine whether it poses risks to surface and ground water…EPA formally announced…it has $1.9 million set aside for the study this year with more funds possible next year…

"Hydraulic fracturing involves drilling into a formation and injecting water mixed with sand and chemicals under high pressure. The mixture cracks open the shale while the sand holds open the fractures, allowing the natural gas to flow more freely to the surface…The chemicals make up a small part of the overall mix — less than 0.5 percent by volume — but often include hazardous substances such as acids and compounds found in cleaners and antifreeze."

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"While fracturing has been used for decades, concerns about its environmental effects have risen in recent years as its use has spread to Eastern states…and to more populated areas in the West…In a number of communities from Pennsylvania to Colorado and Wyoming, some landowners near natural gas drilling operations say their drinking water has been contaminated by fracturing fluids or natural gas.

"Industry leaders insist no instances of ground water contamination have been linked conclusively to the fracturing process, and that the EPA study will reaffirm their belief…[because] gas formations are typically hundreds of feet below drinking water aquifers and that it's in the industry's best interest to be a good neighbor…"

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"Environmental groups also said they're glad to see the EPA moving forward…The EPA issued a report in 2004 saying fracturing isn't a threat to drinking water, but some…[say] that study was biased…A number of the water contamination claims around the country are linked to surface spills of fracturing fluids or possibly defective well construction that allowed natural gas or drilling fluids to leak into water supplies…

"Hydraulic fracturing is not subject to federal drinking water laws but is regulated by state laws. The disposal and storage of all water and fracturing fluids that come back out of a gas well — called produced water — is covered by federal law…The House Energy and Commerce Committee started its own investigation of hydraulic fracturing last month…[T]hat inquiry seems to have focused on the use of diesel in fracturing fluids…The EPA is still determining the scope of [its] study…"