Monday, August 15, 2016

EPA's science advisers challenge agency report on the safety of fracking

Science advisers to the Environmental Protection Agency Thursday challenged an already controversial government report on whether thousands of oil and gas wells that rely on hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” systemically pollute drinking water across the nation. That EPA report, many years in the making and still not finalized, had concluded, “We did not find evidence that these mechanisms have led to widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water resources in the United States,” adding that while there had been isolated problems, those were “small compared to the number of hydraulically fractured wells.” The conclusion was widely cited and interpreted to mean that while there may have been occasional contamination of water supplies, it was not a nationwide problem. Many environmental groups faulted the study, even as industry groups hailed it. But the 30-member advisory panel on Thursday concluded the agency’s report was “comprehensive but lacking in several critical areas.” It recommended that the report be revised to include “quantitative analysis that supports its conclusion” -- if, indeed, the conclusion can be defended. The panel said its critique was backed by 26 of its members, but four dissented. The advisory group is comprised of academic, government, and industry scientists...more

1 comment:

Unknown said...

The fact of the matter is if there were any evidence of widespread aquifer contamination resulting from the natural gas drilling technique known as 'fracking' it would long since have been rubbed into our faces. Some folks try to make a linkage with wastewater disposal and hydrofracking. Different objective, different result. Make mine natural gas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_fracturing