EPA STUDY: Fracking Has Contaminated Drinking Water

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Fracking operations have contaminated drinking water supplies around the country, according to a long-awaited final version of a study from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released today.

The report, done at the request of Congress, provides scientific evidence that hydraulic fracturing activities can impact drinking water resources in the United States under some circumstances.

This news comes on the heels of an investigation by Marketplace and American Public Media that revealed EPA downplayed the risks in a draft version released last year.

EPA’s study is available here: www.epa.gov/hfstudy.

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

“The science is in: fracking has contaminated drinking water. For years, the oil and gas industry has tried to evade regulation, wield its political influence, hide data, and criticize science. These findings confirm what communities around the country have long-feared—there is no room for debate. With a new administration coming in, this underscores the need for action at the federal level. And now, more than ever, states and communities must use their power to guard against these very real risks.”

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 2 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Chicago; Bozeman, Montana; and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.

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