Earlier this month, the Environmental Protection Agency came under fire for making last-minute changes to its 2015 report on how fracking impacts water supplies. But the EPA reversed course Monday, removing language from the report that stated fracking did not lead to “widespread, systemic impacts” on water supplies.
The 2015 version of the report was revised with new input from an independent panel of scientists. The prior version stated that while fracking was responsible for some cases of drinking water contamination, such instances were not widespread. But as EPA science advisor Thomas Burke explained, in preparing the final draft:
“Significant data gaps and uncertainties limited our ability to estimate the national frequency of impacts. Consequently, EPA scientists concluded that the sentence could not be quantitatively supported.”
What Is Fracking?
Hydraulic fracturing – more commonly known as fracking – is an extraction technique in the oil and gas industry. The practice requires breaking apart rock formations deep underground to extract the oil and gas within.
About 50 percent of U.S. oil production and 70 percent of natural gas production comes from fracking.
Dangerous Consequences
Fracking is widely condemned by environmental groups. According to Greenpeace:
“While fossil fuel companies claim fracking has been practiced safely for decades, we actually know very little about its long-term environmental impacts. … Behind the scenes, these same companies have warned their investors that fracking carries the risk of chemical leaks, spills, explosions and other environmental damage, not to mention serious injury to workers.”
The EPA study found that millions of Americans are threatened by fracking. About 3,900 public water systems are within a mile of a fracked well. These water systems serve a combined 8.6 million people. Additionally, 3.6 million people drawing on private water supplies live in counties with at least one fracked well.
Trump Supports Fracking
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to support the expansion of fracking and rescind current fracking regulations.
Trump’s choice to lead the EPA, former Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, is a climate denier and previously rejected an EPA study of fracking in Oklahoma as “politically motivated.”
Trump’s other energy advisors include fracking advocates like Harold Hamm, CEO of Continental Resources, an oil and gas company. Trump asked Kevin Cramer, a Republican Representative from North Dakota, to draft his energy policy. Like Hamm and Trump, Cramer supports fracking and denies that the earth is warming.
Now What?
Oil and gas industry insiders were upset by the revised findings. Erik Milito, upstream director at the American Petroleum Institute, said:
“It is beyond absurd for the administration to reverse course on its way out the door. … Decisions like this amplify the public’s frustrations with Washington.”
While the revised report does not conclude that fracking contamination is or is not widespread, Trump and his cronies will have to reckon with the rest of the EPA’s findings. Madeleine Foote, the legislative representative for the League of Conservation Voters, said:
“Given EPA administrator nominee Scott Pruitt’s record of fighting fracking regulations, it will be important during the confirmation process for senators to ask him if he will follow the recommendations of his agency’s scientists, or continue to rely on industry spin.”
Check out the video below to learn more about the dangers of fracking near fresh water sources:
Featured image via YouTube video.
