AP Exclusive: Wyo. got EPA to delay frack finding

Source: SFGate.com
By Mead Gruver, Associated Press
May 3, 2012

In internal emails that followed the Nov. 4 briefing, state officials expressed support for fracking as critical to oil and gas extraction, a $7.7 billion a year industry in Wyoming that accounts for 20 percent of the state's gross domestic product.

"The limiting of the hydraulic fracturing process will result in negative impacts to the oil and gas revenues to the state of Wyoming. A further outcome will be the questioning of the economic viability of all unconventional and tight oil and gas reservoirs in Wyoming, across the United States, and ultimately in the world," wrote Tom Doll, supervisor of the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, in a long email that circulated among top state officials.

Wyoming's top state regulator of oil and gas development, including essentially all fracking in the state, Doll was a district manager for Tulsa, Okla.-based Williams Production Company until 2008.

The spark for Doll's missive was the closed-door meeting at Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality headquarters in Cheyenne two days earlier. EPA administrator Martin briefed Wyoming officials about what the EPA was about to announce based on its research in Pavillion. Doll took part by phone.

"Contaminants present at high concentrations in the deep monitoring wells are likely a result of hydraulic fracturing," read a "Key Findings" slide in an EPA PowerPoint shown at the meeting. Each slide was marked "Confidential--Do Not Disclose."

The public announcement more than a month later stated that the groundwater "contains compounds likely associated with gas production practices, including hydraulic fracturing."

The EPA also suggested at the private meeting that gas development likely had contaminated household well water in the Pavillion area but that current data did not definitively support such a link. The EPA has made no such claim in public to date.

Emails show that Mead sought to reach Jackson within hours. Mead confirmed that he got her to hold off on the findings report until state officials could review the data.

"When I talked to Lisa Jackson they were going to release the findings regardless. That wasn't even the question. The question was on the timing of it. We wanted a chance to see what are they basing this on," Mead told the AP.

"She said, `Well, maybe we can hold off a couple weeks to give you guys this data.'"




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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Fracking has contaminated a drinking water source, expert says

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 18, 2012

Media Contacts:

Kate Slusark, NRDC, 212-727-4592 or kslusark@nrdc.org

Connie Wilbert, Sierra Club Wyoming Chapter, 307-742-0056 or connie.wilbert@sierraclub.org

Gwen Lachelt, Earthworks’ Oil & Gas Accountability Project, 970-259-3353 x1 or gwen@earthworksaction.org

Steve Jones, Wyoming Outdoor Council watershed protection program attorney, 307-332-7031 x12, steve@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org

Fracking has contaminated a drinking water source, expert says

Independent scientist says the EPA's conclusion is 'sound' — gas drilling has 'clearly' tainted a Pavillion, Wyoming area aquifer

Pavillion, Wyo. — Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has clearly contaminated a drinking water source east of the town of Pavillion, Wyoming, according to a report from an independent scientist released today, supporting the draft findings of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigation published in December. Hydrologist Tom Myers reviewed the EPA’s draft report at the request of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Wyoming Outdoor Council, Sierra Club and Oil and Earthworks’ Oil & Gas Accountability Project.

"It is clear that hydraulic fracturing has polluted the groundwater of Pavillion with contaminants associated with the fracking process," said Tom Myers, a highly regarded expert in hydrology and hydrogeology, and independent consultant for industry, government and environmental groups. "The EPA’s conclusion is sound."

The formation containing gas in Pavilion contains 169 gas wells, yet the formation is part of an underground source of drinking water. As a result, fracking fluid is being injected directly into an underground source of drinking water, according to the EPA.

Myers found that the Pavillion-area groundwater was especially vulnerable to contamination from fracking and gas drilling because of the area's geology, the well designs that were used, and the fact that the construction of the gas wells was inadequate to protect the aquifer. Any of these factors could contribute to the contamination found in the monitoring and water wells. Therefore, unless fracking is done very carefully in the area, contamination is likely, according to Myers.

“This confirms EPA’s preliminary conclusion that hydraulic fracturing can and does pollute groundwater,” said Earthworks’ Oil & Gas Accountability Project Director Gwen Lachelt. “Communities around the country should take heed. Although different gas plays have different geology, if fracking can pollute groundwater here, it can happen elsewhere.”

“Americans shouldn’t have to trade their safe drinking water for fuel,” said Amy Mall of the Natural Resources Defense Council. “These findings just confirm the need to get critical safeguards on the books that protect American’s basic rights – clean water and clean air.”

"Fracking is a dirty process and as Dr. Myers' findings show, one that can put our drinking water at risk," said Connie Wilbert of Sierra Club's Wyoming Chapter.  "If families don’t have clean water, what are they left with?  Is corporate profit really worth more than a safe, clean place to live?”

Steve Jones, Watershed Protection Program Attorney for Wyoming Outdoor Council said he is concerned about best management practices. 

"Sporadic bonding was reported for 12 of the wells for which EPA had well bore data made available to them," Jones said. "If this is representative of the entire field, chances are that hydraulic fracturing contaminants from the gas wells will get to the water wells of many rural Pavillion residents."

        

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