- Lost amidst the debate over the Bush energy bill is a
barely noticed provision that exempts a process called hydraulic fracturing
from federal regulation.[1]
-
- Though bi-partisan citizen groups across the country
are urging that the procedure be regulated under the Safe Drinking Water
Act, a Congressional committee approved a provision that allows the procedure
to remain only under state regulation.
-
- Hydraulic fracturing eases the extraction of fossil fuels
by injecting pressurized fluids and chemicals beneath the earth's surface
in order to crack open rock formations and access oil and natural gas trapped
in them. The problem is that chemicals used in the process can contaminate
ground water, posing serious health problems.
-
- The technique was developed by Halliburton Oil, whose
former CEO, Vice President Dick Cheney, has consistently backed measures
to allow continued use of the technique. Halliburton and two other companies
are leaders in the use of this method of drilling. Halliburton makes $1.5
billion a year from fracturing -- one-fifth of its energy-related revenue.[2]
-
- To support their claims that hydraulic fracturing should
not be regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, industry officials
cite an EPA study that says fracturing in coal bed methane wells "poses
little or no threat" to drinking water.[3]
-
- But Wes Wilson, a Colorado-based EPA administrator, points
out that a recent EPA review of hydraulic fracturing relied on a panel
led primarily by energy industry personnel, including a current Halliburton
employee.
-
- The Colorado-based Oil and Gas Accountability Project
(OGAP) recently completed a report that cites several problems with hydraulic
fracturing and EPA-led studies. According to OGAP, the EPA study fails
to provide "adequate scientific proof that hydraulic fracturing does
not pose a threat to drinking water."
-
- The OGAP report points out that while the EPA says hydraulic
fracturing poses no threat to drinking water, it also says that chemicals
regularly used in the procedure are linked to human health effects. Among
them are cancer, liver, kidney, brain, respiratory and skin disorders;
birth defects; and other health problems.[4]
-
- Lisa Sumi, research director of OGAP, points out that
"the EPA had information showing that numerous chemicals are injected
at concentrations that threaten human health, but they chose to leave that
information out of their study."[5]
-
- SOURCES:
- [1] "States May Retain Oversight of Process in Gas
Oil
- Fields," Associated Press, Apr. 18, 2005.
- http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=
rednews/2005/04/19/build/wyoming/40-oil.inc
- [2] "Halliburton's Interests Assisted by White House,"
- Los Angeles Times, Oct. 14, 2004.
- http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-na-frac14oct
14,1,2046817.story?coll=la-news-environment&ctrack=1&cset=true
- [3] "House Panel Deregulates Drilling Technique,"
Los
- Angeles Times, Apr. 13, 2005.
- http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-04130
5halliburton_lat,0,6809249.story?coll=la-home-headlines
- [4] "Our Drinking Water At Risk," Oil and Gas
- Accountability project report, Apr. 2005.
- http://www.earthworksaction.org/pubs/Our_Drinking_
Water_at_Risk%20_Exec_Sum.pdf
- [5] Earthworks press release, Apr. 13, 2005.
- http://www.earthworksaction.org/PR_OGAP_FracReport.cfm
-
- Copyright © 2003 Environmental Media Services
-
- http://www.bushgreenwatch.org/mt_archives/000261.php
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