In response to public concern, the United States Congress urged the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) to conduct scientific research to examine the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water resources. US EPA is undertaking a study to understand the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources, if any, and to identify the driving factors that may affect the severity and frequency of such impacts.
The scope of the study includes the full hydraulic fracturing water lifecycle—from water acquisition, through the mixing of chemicals and injection of fracturing fluids, to the post–fracturing stage, including the management of flowback and produced water and its ultimate treatment and disposal. The study will include a review of the published literature, analysis of existing data, scenario evaluation and modeling, laboratory studies, and case studies.
US EPA is soliciting public involvement in identifying relevant data and scientific literature specific to inform US EPA's research study on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. While US EPA conducts a thorough literature search, there may be studies or other primary technical sources that are not available through the open literature. US EPA would appreciate receiving information from the public to help inform current and future research and ensure a robust record of scientific information. US EPA prefers information that has been peer reviewed.
For more information see the Federal Register for November 9, 2012. Submissions will be accepted until April 30, 2013.