The EPA is calling for information on incidents of ground water contamination possibly due to hydraulic fracturing of coalbed methane wells.

As part of its study of the potential water quality impacts of an oil and gas industry practice, EPA is calling for information on incidents of ground water contamination possibly due to hydraulic fracturing of coalbed methane wells. In 1998, state oil and gas agencies reported through a Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) survey that hydraulic fracturing had not caused contamination of underground sources of drinking water. As a follow-up to the GWPC survey, EPA is issuing this call for information in order to find whether other agencies, such as local drinking water suppliers and public health departments, may know of incidents of which state oil and gas agencies are unaware. For more information on this topic, go to www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/cbmstudy.html.

Links