Posted on 04/14/2011 6:26:15 PM PDT by neverdem
Several Democratic senators said Tuesday that the Environmental Protection Agency should step up regulation of the natural gas industry because they are concerned that toxic chemicals used in drilling could enter the public water supply.
In a Senate hearing, Democrats pressed the agency about the consequences of a fast-growing drilling technique called hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, that involves pumping chemicals and water deep underground to release gas deposits.
“The industry has failed to meet minimal acceptable performance levels for protecting human health and the environment,” said Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, Democrat of Maryland and chairman of the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee of the environment committee. “The question is, What is E.P.A. doing about this?”
A recent article by The New York Times reported that these drilling fluids, which are often processed at sewage treatment plants, contain radioactivity at levels far higher than federal regulators say is safe for these plants to handle.
Robert Perciasepe, the environmental agency’s deputy administrator, testified that state and federal regulators were collaborating to ensure that no contaminants from fracking entered drinking water.
Mr. Perciasepe said that the E.P.A. had commissioned an independent study of hydrofracking and that drilling companies had been asked for new details about the chemicals in the water delivered to treatment plants.
“Our primary role here is oversight on the state programs,” he said, “but they are running the programs. Where we see some imminent endangerment, we may take our own action.”
Republicans at the hearing expressed concern about increasing the E.P.A.’s regulatory responsibilities. Current state regulations are adequate, said Senator James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma, adding that there are no cases of contaminated drinking water being linked directly to hydrofracking.
“These people have been doing a good job,” Mr. Inhofe said. “But the mentality in Washington is, nothing is done...”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Hey DemonRats: FRAC YOU!
Thanks for the info. It’s 52wk Range: $1.01 - $9.72. If it’s a citrus based aqueous solution, what’s the problem with ground spillage? Is it too acidic?
Benzene is used, as I understand it, to track the progress and recovery of the liguids and sands.
Maryland "Freak State" PING!
Hydrofracking in the tight shales is relatively new and fast-growing.
The study that was done in Hinckley to measure the cancer rate was some 25 years after PG&E was said to have been polluting the water. So it’s not an accurate sample since many people may have either left of died young in that period.
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