API: Even EPA Said Fracking Is Safe

The American Petroleum Institute pushed back against the Environmental Protection Agency and its regulations targeting hydraulic fracturing on Wednesday, saying government reports have already proven fracking to be environmentally safe. The EPA began implementing hydraulic fracturing regulations in order to establish public health and environmental safeguards. Concerns associated with fracking include the possible contamination of drinking and surface waters and air pollution. API Director of Upstream and Industry Operations Erik Milito pointed to two separate reports: a 1999 Energy Department report finding advanced oil and gas production technology, including hydraulic fracturing, provides environmental benefits such as lower waste volumes and fewer wells drilled; and a 2015 EPA report which concluded fracking could potentially impact drinking water resources, but “did not find evidence that these mechanisms have led to widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water resources in the United States.”...more