The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking input from the industry and others on its draft assessment of the impact hydraulic fracturing has on water resources. The draft was release early this month.
“EPA’s draft assessment will give state regulators, tribes and local communities and industry around the country a critical resource to identify how best to protect public health and their drinking water resources,” said Dr. Thomas A. Burke, EPA’s Science Advisor and Deputy Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “It is the most complete compilation of scientific data to date, including over 950 sources of information, published papers, numerous technical reports, information from stakeholders and peer-reviewed EPA scientific reports.”
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, regulations potentially affect both water well drillers and oil & gas drillers. It’s critical for drillers working in both of these areas to get informed and weigh in on this important issue. This assessment could provide the basis for federal policies on both energy and groundwater moving forward.
Read the EPA Science Advisory Board’s draft assessment here, and find out how to submit comments and get your voice heard during one of three public teleconferences at the Federal Register website.
I recently spoke with DeLancey Davis, Franklin vice president and president of North American Water Systems. He addressed the importance of speaking up as a member of the industry.
“Think of government as a computer — bad data in, bad data out. If we as an industry are not doing a good job educating all the policymakers at every level, then what do we expect?”
I think both water well drillers and oil & gas drillers can agree that fracking fears are overblown and that the practice is safe if done right. I think a lot of drillers can also agree that there are plenty of cases where well-intentioned regulations make work harder than it needs to be. This is why your voice is so important.
Take the time to weigh in. Read the draft assessment. Then go here. Click Submit a Formal Comment. Help point policy in a direction the keeps groundwater safe and keeps the burden on industry to a minimum.
Stay safe out there, drillers.
