From a Natural Gas Company Point of View:
The changes implemented from the Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD) can greatly limit the growth of the natural gas industry. Hydraulic fracturing has widely been known to be a method to efficiently stimulate oil and gas production. Over the years, hydraulic fracturing has expanded and kept up with the demand for energy. While we do understand that people may be concern about fracturing causing contamination, there has been little evidence that fracturing actually contaminates water supplies.
There have been many published studies and agency investigations that have reported that there is no direct connection between hydraulic fracturing and groundwater contamination. Cases where hydraulic fracturing was involved with contamination often had gas migration that was caused by improperly cased and cemented wells, or excessive pressure from the outside. For example, in Pennsylvania, contamination was caused by methane that had migrated to the water wells that were improperly cased and cemented. There were similar incidents in other areas too. In other words, many groundwater contamination incidents were caused by poor well construction or surface activities rather than a specific hydraulic fracturing process.
In addition, there have been many people who stated that additional regulation is unnecessary. Many state agencies argue against additional regulation because hydraulic fracturing has a long successful history in developing oil and gas resources. Our industry representatives have also stated that additional regulation on fracturing would likely slow domestic gas development and increase energy prices. For these reasons, regulation could cause additional and unnecessary problems.
Since the FAD limits us from performing hydraulic fracturing near the watershed areas, we are forced to choose other areas to perform this task. There is currently no evidence that hydraulic fracturing cause contamination in water supplies. We strongly encourage the EPA and the city to rethink about this requirement.
Source of Information:
Tiemann, Mary. Hydraulic Fracturing and Safe Drinking Water Act Issues. Washington, D.C.. UNT Digital Library. http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc83959/. Accessed December 2, 2012.
