Fracking Has Had No ‘Widespread’ Impact on Drinking Water, EPA Finds

[Jesus Malverde]

Fracking isn’t causing widespread damage to the nation’s drinking water, the Obama administration said in a long-awaited report released Thursday.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—after a four-year study that is the U.S. government’s most comprehensive examination of the issue to date—concluded that hydraulic fracturing, as being carried out by industry and regulated by states, isn’t having “widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water.”

However, the EPA said there were a small number of contaminated drinking wells and highlighted potential vulnerabilities, including the disposal of wastewater and construction of durable wells.

The report was issued nearly a decade since fracking began helping unlock vast reserves of oil and natural gas across the U.S. It also bolsters the position staked out by the energy industry and its supporters: that fracking can be carried out safely.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/fracking-has-had-no-widespread-impact-on-drinking-water-epa-finds-1433433850

[hollysmom]

1. unless you inject the fracking into the drinking water.

[niyad]

2. where is that bottle of whiskey?

[Avalux]

3. Widespread and systemic means that it would be a national crisis.

Using those words to define the damage doesn't mean that damage isn't being done in pockets across the U.S. Bullshit report.

[SusanCalvin]

4. Yet. nt

[Cheese Sandwich]

5. Translation: Poor people don't count

Widespread = affects people with money

Not widespread = poisons a bunch of dumb hicks

[SusanCalvin]

8. Bingo. nt

[Starry Messenger]

6. They should order it for their water-coolers then.

I want video of them drinking it.

[spanone]

7. but give it a little time.....it's getting there

[Agony]

9. EPA Study: Fracking Puts Drinking Water Supplies at Risk of Contamination

snip
The Environmental Protection Agency has released its long awaited draft assessment of the impacts that fracking has on the nation's drinking water supplies — confirming that the process does indeed contaminate water.

“From our assessment, we conclude there are above and below ground mechanisms by which hydraulic fracturing activities have the potential to impact drinking water resources,” the EPA wrote.

The impacts take a variety of forms, the EPA wrote, listing the effects of water consumption especially in arid regions or during droughts, chemical and wastewater spills, “fracturing directly into underground drinking water resources,” the movement of liquids and gasses below ground “and inadequate treatment and discharge of wastewater.”

The agency wrote that it had documented “specific instances” where each of those problems had in fact happened and some cases where multiple problems combined to pollute water supplies.
…
Fracking Supporters Try to Spin Study To Their Advantage
snip
http://www.desmogblog.com/2015/06/04/epa-study-fracking-contaminates-water-supplies

[deutsey]

10. Gosh, how could the hallowed WSJ get it wrong?

[surrealAmerican]

11. So, it's a "local" issue ...

... and fracking should only be allowed in places where people don't drink water, right?

[raouldukelives]

12. I guess that all depends on your definition of widespread, man.

As long as it never comes in contact with water, I would agree.

[Hiraeth]

13. with all due respect, bullshit.