New EPA Fracking Diesel Guidance Step in Right Direction
First ever EPA oversight of fracking's threat to drinking water highlights need to close Halliburton loophole
Earthworks
February 11, 2014
Washington, D.C. — Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released long-awaited guidance (see below for links) describing how the oil and gas industry may use diesel fuel in the fluids used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking). When it takes effect sometime this year, this will be EPA’s first formal rule or guidance dealing with fracking’s threat to drinking water.
“Diesel and drinking water don't mix,” said Earthworks executive director Jennifer Krill. She continued, “Even the Cheney-era Congress recognized diesel’s hazard to drinking water. That’s why, even as they passed the Halliburton loophole to the Safe Drinking Water Act, Congress left the door open for this first-ever EPA oversight of fracking’s threat to drinking water.”
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 exempted hydraulic fracturing from the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in the Halliburton Loophole—except when diesel is used. This EPA action provides guidance for using the Safe Drinking Water Act’s Underground Injection Control Program to protect underground sources of drinking water. As recently as October 2013, Congressional investigators found diesel use reported by fracking companies to the quasi-governmental reporting website FracFocus.org.
“Despite the fact that diesel is clearly being used in fracking, oil and gas companies continue to deny using diesel. The EPA should follow through with a formal rulemaking,” said Jennifer Krill. She continued, “This EPA diesel guidance sets a precedent, but until the Halliburton loophole is closed, Americans won’t be protected from the risk of getting poisoned by toxic fracking chemicals.”
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For more information:
EPA fracking diesel guidance: http://bit.ly/1ns9SeU
EPA fracking diesel guidance memo: http://bit.ly/1kz1iOmWaxman-Degette letter regarding ongoing use of diesel in fracking as revealed by FracFocus.org: http://bit.ly/DieselWaxmanDegetteLtr
Screen capture of FracFocus.org showing diesel use last month:
http://bit.ly/FracFocusDiesel1
http://bit.ly/FracFocusDiesel2Earthworks diesel comments: http://bit.ly/EW-DieselComments
Contact:
Lauren Pagel, lpagel@earthworksaction.org, 202-887-1872x107
Alan Septoff, aseptoff@earthworksaction.org, 202-887-1872x105
Tagged with: water pollution, regulation, guidance, fracking, epa, drinking water, diesel
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