EPA Advisory Board Forms Panel to Peer Review Hydraulic Fracturing

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has formed the Hydraulic Fracturing Research Advisory panel, consisting of an independent body to peer-review the agency’s research on hydraulic fracturing and its potential impact on drinking water resources.

"Serious concerns have been raised by citizens and their representatives about the potential impact of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water, human health and the environment,” EPA said on their website. “These concerns demand further study."

The Hydraulic Fracturing Research Advisory Panel, made up of 31 nationwide academics and experts, was created by EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) to review a congressionally ordered 2014 draft report looking at the potential health impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources.

EPA said it will conduct research using the best available science through independent sources of information, and will conduct the study in consultation with others using a transparent, peer-reviewed process. Furthermore, EPA noted that this study is intended to both provide the data where there is a lack of adequate information and to contribute to resolving scientific uncertainties.

In March 2010, EPA announced that Congress directed the organization to conduct the study. The draft study plan was submitted to EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) for review in March 2011 with a final draft report expected for release for public comment and peer review in late 2014.

"Our final report on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources must be based on sound science and take into account the latest practices being used by the industry,” Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe said in a written statement. “We have worked to ensure that the study process be open and transparent throughout, and the SAB panel is another example of our approach of openness and scientific rigor."

The SAB sought public nominations of nationally and internationally recognized scientists and engineers having experience and expertise related to hydraulic fracturing in an August 2012 Federal Register notice.

SAB is scheduled to convene on May 7 and 8, 2013 to provide feedback from the panel members regarding EPA’s 2012 progress report on the study. The public will also have the opportunity to provide comments for the panel’s consideration, noted EPA.

With more than 10 years of journalism experience, Robin Dupre specializes in the offshore sector of the oil and gas industry. Email Robin at rdupre@rigzone.com.

Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.

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Gov. Hickenlooper’s ‘order’ to oil and gas commission to review fines an empty gesture

Recently, Gov. Hickenlooper put on a masterful show of playing a politician who cares about Coloradans. Unfortunately, it was just an act to distract from the fact that Gov. Hickenlooper successfully killed efforts to set mandatory minimum fines and increase caps on fines for oil and gas companies that pollute.  

After killing these measures, aimed at holding polluters accountable, Gov. Hickenlooper put out a press release ordering his oil and gas commission to ‘review enforcement, fines.’ In other words, he directed his commission to take a look into their abysmal record and get back to him. That’s not leadership, it was an empty gesture to cover his tracks.

Gov. Hickenlooper’s press release doesn’t do anything to strengthen Colorado’s woefully outdated laws, which include the lowest fines in the nation for polluters.  And it’s doubtful that the governor’s oil and gas commission, which includes oil and gas industry employees, will suddenly become competent at holding oil and gas polluters accountable.  An analysis by the Denver Post found that Colorado rarely fines oil and gas companies who pollute. According to the Coloradoan, less than 7 percent of industry violations since 1996 have resulted in fines.

Site of Parachute spill
Source: ecoflight

Last year, the industry reported 402 spills, of which 20 percent contaminated water. Six companies alone accounted for 85 percent of all the spills that contaminated groundwater – Anadarko, Noble Energy, Encana, PDC Energy, WPX Energy and Pioneer Natural Resources.

Not only are polluters not held accountable, but Gov. Hickenlooper has routinely rewarded some of the biggest oil and gas polluters in the state. In 2010 and 2011, Noble Energy caused more spills than any other operator in Colorado – 126.  Yet, Hickenlooper’s oil and gas commission gave Noble an ‘Outstanding Operator’ award.

Gov. Hickenlooper also gave Anadarko an ‘Outstanding Operator’ award in 2011, while last year, Anadarko subsidy Kerr-McGee was linked to 70 spills – more than any other operator – of which, 38 percent resulted in water contamination. With these awards, Gov. Hickenlooper has once again made it clear that he isn’t that interested in holding oil and gas companies accountable when they pollute.

Gov. Hickenlooper used the power of his office to kill stronger standards that would have held the oil and gas industry accountable when they pollute. He chose to put the interests of the industry ahead of what’s best for Colorado families and that’s a shame. Now, Gov. Hickenlooper is insulting Coloradans by acting as the concerned politician.

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Outside experts to review Colorado prison operations following staff member's murder

Font ResizeCops and CourtsBy Kirk Mitchell
The Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/21/2012 02:11:27 PM MSTDecember 21, 2012 9:17 PM GMTUpdated: 12/21/2012 02:17:44 PM MST


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