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Congress May Request Study of Hydraulic Fracturing This summer, the House Appropriation Committee approved a measure that would have the EPA investigate hydraulic fracturing’s potential impact on groundwater supplies.
The technique, which some refer to as “fracking,” injects liquids, chemicals and sand into the ground to create channels from which gas can flow out of gas-rich sand and rock formations.
The measure was sponsored by Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., who together with Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo. is sponsoring a bill that aims to subject the practice to federal oversight.
The governor of Colorado, Bill Ritter, recently told an industry group that he has asked DeGette to consider authorizing further study before pushing a new and “potentially intrusive” regulatory program.
While industry claims that the liquids are injected below the level of drinking water wells and that they are isolated so that the practice doesn’t endanger drinking water supplies, residents near drilling areas in the Rockies have reported well blowouts, bad-tasting water and various health problems. Critics of a 2004 EPA study that concluded the technique did not threaten drinking water say the report was based on flawed methods. Hydraulic fracturing was pioneered by Halliburton Company. A 2005 provision preventing its regulation by the EPA was nicknamed the “Halliburton loophole" by foes. |
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