GAO Report: Drinking Water at Risk from Underground Fracking Waste Injection

WASHINGTON (July 28, 2014) – The Environmental Protection Agency’s program to protect drinking water sources from the underground injection of fracking waste needs improvement, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.
 
Underground injection of fracking waste has been linked to drinking water contamination and induced earthquakes around the country.
 
The GAO report is online here: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-14-555. Highlights are here: http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/664500.pdf.
 
A statement follows from Amy Mall, senior policy analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council:
 
“The federal government's watchdog is saying what communities across the country have known for years: fracking is putting Americans at risk. From drinking water contamination to man-made earthquakes, the reckless way oil and gas companies deal with their waste is a big problem. Outdated rules and insufficient enforcement are largely to blame. EPA needs to rein in this industry run amok.”

 

Related Issues
Drinking Water Human Health Fossil Fuels Equity & Justice

Related Press Releases

Skip carousel items

CLEAN Future Act Strives to Boost Jobs, Justice and Climate Action

Press Release
WASHINGTON – House energy and environment leaders are expected to introduce broad-ranging legislation today addressing the climate crisis by cutting climate emissions in half by 2030, boosting jobs for workers, protecting communities burdened by pollution and putting the United States…

Wheeler Should Not be Promoted at EPA

Press Release
WASHINGTON - The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is holding a confirmation hearing today on the nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The former coal lobbyist has been acting administrator since…

Wheeler’s Acts to Protect Polluters Shouldn’t be Rewarded

Press Release
WASHINGTON – President Trump today nominated Andrew Wheeler to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. The former coal lobbyist has been acting administrator since former EPA chief Scott Pruitt resigned under an ethical cloud last July.