story by Wesley Brown, courtesy of Talk Business & Politics
wesbrocomm@gmail.com
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a landmark report on hydraulic fracturing Thursday (June 4) that the oil and gas industry is hailing as a victory for its environmental stewardship.
The EPA assessment, done at the request of Congress, shows that while hydraulic fracturing activities in the U.S. are carried out in a way that have not led to widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water resources, there are potential vulnerabilities in the water lifecycle that could impact drinking water.
The EPA assessment follows the water used for hydraulic fracturing from water 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.
“EPA’s draft assessment will give state regulators, tribes and local communities and industry around the country a critical resource to identify how best to protect public health and their drinking water resources,” said Dr. Thomas A. Burke, EPA’s Science Advisor and Deputy Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “It is the most complete compilation of scientific data to date, including over 950 sources of information, published papers, numerous technical reports, information from stakeholders and peer-reviewed EPA scientific reports.”
The American Petroleum Institute, which represents the oil and gas industry, applauded the report, saying that hydraulic fracturing has not led to widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water resources thanks to the safety and effectiveness of state and federal regulations, and current industry practices.
“After more than five years and millions of dollars, the evidence gathered by EPA confirms what the agency has already acknowledged and what the oil and gas industry has known,” said API Upstream Group Director Erik Milito. “Hydraulic fracturing is being done safely under the strong environmental stewardship of state regulators and industry best practices.”
The API also said that hydraulic fracturing has been used safely in over a million wells, “resulting in America’s rise as a global energy superpower, growth in energy investments, wages, and new jobs.” The powerful industry trade group said hydraulic fracturing supports more than 2 million U.S. jobs, has increased supplies of oil and natural gas, and has helped to put downward pressure on energy prices.
On the other hand, the Sierra Club countered that the EPA study ignored critical questions and only offered a glimpse of the dangers posed by fracking.
“The EPA’s water quality study confirms what millions of Americans already know – that dirty oil and gas fracking contaminates drinking water,” said Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune.
“Unfortunately, the EPA chose to leave many critical questions unanswered,” Brune added. “For example, the study did not look at this issue under the lens of public health and ignored numerous threats that fracking poses to drinking water. The EPA must conduct a comprehensive study that results in action to protect public health.”
Despite Brune’s counter argument, the EPA report is widely seen as a win for the oil and gas sector. By Thursday evening, the EPA report was showing up on energy-related blogs, news sites and in email alerts that report on the drilling and upstream oil and gas sector.
The Houston Chronicle’s “Fuel Fix” blog had the EPA fracking study as its top story and cited several oil and gas industry leaders who gave rare kudos to the federal environment agency. Washington, D.C.-based TheHill.com had a headline story saying the EPA fracking report gives Republicans “new ammo” to fight further regulations against the controversial drilling technique used to induce gas to flow through to the surface from “fractures” in underground shale plays.
To view the full EPA report, executive summary and news release, click here.
www2.epa.gov/hfstudy
In Arkansas the oil and gas industry also scored another victory on Thursday. A divided Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that the state of Arkansas illegally collected taxes on sand used by the industry for natural gas drilling.
The state’s high court said the sand should have been tax-exempt. The state Department of Finance and Administration will begin refunding $24.5 million to four companies that were part of the lawsuit.