Groups Want EPA to Expand Study of Wastewater from Fracking Disposal Risk

Date: December 18, 2012

Source: News Room

Environmental groups want EPA to expand its study of wastewater disposal from hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to include disposal in underground injection wells, where at least 90 percent of disposal occurs. Its current study is only concerned with releases to treatment facilities. Their concern is that produced water discharges from fracking operations contain a host of pollutants that are contaminating surface water resources and that research would bolster their case for EPA to strengthen its disposal rules for wastewater from oil and gas drilling operations, which is currently exempt from strict hazardous waste disposal requirements. The exemption allows disposal in less-regulated Class II wastewater disposal wells, rather than more strictly regulated Class I wells.

To learn more, visit: www.epa.gov/hfstudy/.

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