As part of the review, 16 researchers at UT Austin in a variety of fields including air quality and hydrology reviewed the scientific literature and regulatory documents for three major areas of fracking in Texas, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania and New York. They could not find evidence of drilling fluids leaking deep underground, and methane in water wells in some areas is probably due to natural sources. The team did not see a need for new regulations specific to fracking, but for better enforcement of existing regulations of drilling in general—such as those covering well casing and disposal of wastewater from drilling. (Fracking in 2005 was specifically exempted from the Clean Water Act.)
But, but, but, they're from Texas, they must be shills for the drilling companies!
Groat, a former director of the U.S. Geological Survey, emphasized that the $380,000 report was independent from the natural gas industry and conducted only with university funds. Underlying white papers were peer-reviewed, he told ScienceNOW, and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) was consulted on the overall scope and design of the study.
Do you expect this to silence critics of fracking, who constantly harp on the threat to drinking water? I don't. What they are really after is the deindustrialization of the United States, unless the energy is produced by unicorn farts. Drinking water is an excuse. If not drinking water, then
earthquakes,
radiation or
carbon dioxide and methane emissions.
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