EPA has completed a study of the possible impacts of hydraulic
fracturing on underground sources of drinking water (USDWs).
The goal of the study was to assess the potential for contamination
of USDWs due to the injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids
into coalbed methane (CBM) wells, and to determine based
on these findings, whether further study is warranted.
In its evaluation, EPA researched over 200 peer-reviewed publications,
interviewed approximately 50 employees from state or local government
agencies, and communicated with approximately 40 citizens who
were concerned that CBM production impacted their drinking water
wells. The Agency searched for confirmed incidents of drinking
water well damage and after comprehensive review of the information
collected, the agency completed an evaluation of the potential
threat to USDWs. EPA published a draft report in August 2002 requesting
public comment. EPA received a number of public comments on the
draft report and incorporated changes as appropriate into the
final report.
Based on the information collected and reviewed, EPA has concluded
that the injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids into CBM wells
poses little or no threat to USDWs and does not justify additional
study at this time.
BACKGROUND
Prior to 1997, EPA had not considered regulating hydraulic fracturing
because the Agency believed that this well production stimulation
process did not fall under the Underground Injection Control (UIC)
program's purview, nor under the jurisdiction of the Safe Drinking
Water Act (SDWA).
In 1994, the Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation (LEAF)
challenged that interpretation because LEAF believed the State
of Alabama should regulate hydraulic fracturing for coalbed methane
development as underground injection. LEAF petitioned EPA to withdraw
Alabama’s SDWA Section 1425 UIC program. EPA rejected LEAF's
petition, and LEAF litigated. In 1997, the 11th Circuit Court
of Appeals ruled that hydraulic fracturing of coalbeds in Alabama
should be regulated under the SDWA as underground injection (LEAF
v. EPA, 118 F. 3d 1467). The State was required to modify its
UIC program, and in December 1999, EPA approved this revision.
Since the 11th Circuit Court's decision, EPA has contacted and
been contacted by citizens who expressed concern that practices
associated with methane gas production from coalbeds has resulted
in contamination of USDWs. This study is the outgrouwth of those
contacts.
For more information, contact: Jeff Jollie, Drinking Water Protection
Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 4606, Ariel
Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460;
Phone: (202) 564-3886; E-Mail: jollie.jeff@epa.gov.
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