The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its final plan for a multi-year study of hydraulic fracturing. According to the plan, released on November 3, 2011, the agency will study the full “lifecycle” of the fracturing process.
Specifically, EPA said the study will focus on five key areas and questions: (i) water acquisition—“what are the potential impacts of large volume water withdrawals from ground and surface waters on drinking water resources?”; (ii) chemical mixing—“what are the possible impacts of surface spills on or near well pads of hydraulic fracturing fluids on drinking water resources?”; (iii) well injection—“what are the possible impacts of the injection and fracturing process on drinking water resources?”; (iv) flowback and produced water—“what are the possible impacts of surface spills on or near well pads of flowback and produced water on drinking water resources?”; and (v) wastewater treatment and disposal—“what are the possible impacts of inadequate treatment of hydraulic fracturing wastewaters on drinking water resources?” See EPA Press Release, November 3, 2011.
