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Tuesday, August 16, 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 draft 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 in a statement sure to prolong the already multiyear scientific debate on fracking and its influence on water, the 30-member advisory panel on Thursday concluded the agency’s report was “comprehensive but lacking in several critical areas.”

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

After all, it's just a few water source contaminations that can't be undone, and only a few thousand people and businesses that will suffer. Isn't that worth the risk?

Anonymous said...

"It involves the injection of liquids into underground rock layers at high pressure to extract oil and gas trapped inside."

Until they tell what "liquids" they are injecting, and what "liquids" are in the contaminated wastewater, NO fracking should take place.

Anonymous said...

Of course is pollutes the environment. But anything for money, right?

Anonymous said...

Fracking is a crime. Its only being allowed because Big Oil lines the pockets of politicians.

Anonymous said...

If you really understand what FRACKING is, then you will know by common sense that it is dangerous.