The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will conduct a comprehensive research study to investigate the potential adverse impacts of hydraulic fracturing on water quality and public health.
Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," is a process that drills vertical and horizontal
cracks underground that help withdraw gas, or oil, from coalbeds, shale
and other geological formations. While each site is unique, in general,
the process involves vertical and horizontal drilling, taking water
from the ground, injecting fracturing fluids and sands into the
formation, and withdrawing gas and separating and managing the leftover
waters.
Energy companies say fracking--a relatively new practice--makes possible the extraction of new sources of natural gas in the Northeast that could meet energy needs for the next 100 years.
However, there are concerns that hydraulic fracturing may impact ground water and surface water quality in ways that threaten human health and the environment. New York City has opposed new drilling within the watershed that supplies drinking water to the city's millions of residents.
Communities in New York and Pennsylvannia are split over the possibility of millions of dollars in royalty income from drilling companies and the possibility of poisoned water supplies.
EPA is re-allocating $1.9 million in its 2010 budget for a comprehensive, peer-reviewed study and requesting funding for FY11 in the president’s budget proposal.
EPA said it is in the early stages of designing the research program that will contain a "robust process" for stakeholder input and external peer-review.
The agency is seeking suggestions and comments from the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB)--an independent, external federal advisory committee.
Additional information is available here.
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