EPA Study: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its draft final assessment of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing (HF) on drinking water on June 4. While EPA found specific instances of above and below ground mechanisms by which HF has the potential to impact drinking water resources, the agency did not find evidence that these mechanisms have led to widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water resources in the U.S., although it also noted a lack of data in many areas. EPA’s Science Advisory Board is conducting a peer review of the assessment, with release of a final report by EPA likely in early 2016.
Read the executive summary and the full draft assessment. Information on how to submit public comment can be found in the Federal Register Notice.
