(WESTERVILLE, OH — April 17, 2012) The National Ground Water Association reiterated today its call for additional peer-reviewed study of the potential for hydraulic fracturing to contaminate groundwater while also applauding new federal efforts to coordinate relevant research.
“Additional studies, research, and monitoring related to the potential for groundwater contamination from the installation, hydraulic fracturing, operation, and maintenance of oil and gas wells are needed, given the growing use of horizontal wells and hydraulic fracturing,” said NGWA, drawing from its recent position paper on the subject.
On April 13, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. departments of Energy and the Interior announced a formal partnership to “coordinate and align all research associated with development of our nation’s abundant unconventional natural gas and oil resources.” The partnership is consistent with President Obama’s new Interagency Working Group to Support Safe and Responsible Development of Unconventional Domestic Natural Gas Resources announced the same day.
“We applaud this effort to bring coordination and focus to the federal government’s energy production-related research to protect groundwater quality, particularly relating to hydraulic fracturing,” said NGWA Executive Director Kevin McCray, CAE. “Sound science is indispensable to responsible policy decisions regarding groundwater, and peer-reviewed study is vital to sound science.”
Groundwater provides:
“The greater use of horizontal wells and hydraulic fracturing technology has the potential to significantly expand natural gas and oil supplies and hold down prices; however, concomitant with this enhanced production is the increased possibility for groundwater contamination,” NGWA stated.
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NGWA, a nonprofit organization composed of U.S. and international groundwater professionals — contractors, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, scientists, and engineers — is dedicated to advancing groundwater knowledge. NGWA’s vision is to be the leading groundwater association that advocates the responsible development, management, and use of water.
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