UPDATE: EPA Studies Hydraulic-Fracturing Effect On Water
18 Marzo 2010 - 1:19PM
Noticias Dow Jones
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday launched a
study to determine whether a key oil and natural gas production
technique called hydraulic fracturing is contaminating water
supplies.
While environmentalists are concerned that the process may be
causing groundwater contamination and are calling for federal
oversight, the industry says there is no proof and it is already
adequately regulated.
At issue are new natural-gas reservoirs deep below the earth's
surface that companies such as Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK) and
XTO Energy Inc. (XTO) say could multiply the available domestic
reserves of a resource that has a fraction of the greenhouse-gas
emissions of its fossil fuel cousins, coal and oil.
"Our research will be designed to answer questions about the
potential impact of hydraulic fracturing on human health and the
environment," said Paul Anastas, assistant administrator for EPA's
Office of Research and Development. "The study will be conducted
through a transparent, peer-reviewed process, with significant
stakeholder input," he said in a statement.
Reps. Diana DeGette, (D., Co.), and Maurice Hinchey, (D., N.Y.),
cosponsors of legislation to bring hydraulic fracturing under EPA
regulation, said the study would be a significant step in ensuring
drinking water is protected.
The American Petroleum Institute said in a statement, "We expect
the study to confirm what 60 years of experience and investigation
have already demonstrated: that hydraulic fracturing is a safe and
well understood technology for producing oil and natural gas."
Lee Fuller, head of the petroleum-industry group EnergyInDepth,
said that if the review "is based on objective, scientific
analysis, it will serve as an opportunity to highlight the host of
steps taken at every wellsite that make certain groundwater is
properly protected."
Facing increasing pressure from some Democratic lawmakers and
environmentalists, the EPA said in its proposed budget earlier this
year it planned to conduct a study of the process.
Previous studies by the EPA--including one review of the process
for coalbed methane extraction at much shallower levels--haven't
found hydraulic fracturing carries a risk of water
contamination.
Although the states regulate the actual process of hydraulic
fracturing--known as fracking--the EPA already regulates the
waste-water systems that either re-inject it into reservoirs or
send it to waste-treatment facilities.
Last month, Steve Heare, director of the EPA's Drinking Water
Protection Division, said at a conference he hadn't seen any
documented cases that the fracking process was contaminating water
supplies.
Bill Kappel, a U.S. Geological Survey official, said at the same
conference that contamination of water supplies is more likely to
happen as companies process the waste water from hydrofracking. In
some instances, municipal water systems that treat the water have
reported higher levels of heavy metals and radioactivity.
"Treatment of the [waste] water hasn't caught up with the
hydrofracking technology," Kappel said.
Although legislation in the House and Senate to bring greater
federal oversight of the hydrofracking process hasn't gained
momentum, Heare said even if such proposals are approved, it
wouldn't likely have a dramatic effect on regulation. States would
still have the right under the Safe Drinking Water Act to use their
own regulatory standards.
-By Ian Talley, Dow Jones Newswires; (202) 862 9285;
ian.talley@dowjones.com;
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