NRDC Statement on EPA Draft Study of Fracking & Drinking Water Risks

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 4, 2015) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released its long-awaited draft study of the potential impacts of fracking on drinking water supplies around the country.

Following is a statement from Amy Mall, Senior Policy Analyst in the Land and Wildlife Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC):

“This draft study provides solid scientific analysis that fracking has contaminated drinking water around the country. The report, while limited, shows fracking can and has impacted drinking water sources in many different ways. We agree that the public needs better protections.

“There are still significant gaps in the scientific understanding of fracking. This study is site-specific and limited, as EPA has explained which makes it impossible to fully understand all the risks at this time.

"This draft study is missing some critical elements, hamstringing its comprehensiveness. Among other things, there are reports industry has not cooperated in providing important information. And field studies of start-to-finish impacts never made it in. Much more science will be necessary to fully understand all of the risks. But despite the holes, it is clear EPA has found impacts--they just cannot be sure how widespread those impacts are. 

“We will be digging into this study in the coming days, with close focus on evaluating the role of the oil and gas industry, which submarined a Bush administration study. Americans should be able to trust that their drinking water is safe, and we are counting on EPA to protect it.”

The study can be found at http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-06/documents/hf_es_erd_jun2015.pdf