Getting
a Straight Answer
Incidents
of chemical contamination in drinking wells in PA, WY, CO, and NY have caused
controversy regarding hydraulic fracturing. Some wells have blown up from the
release of methane gas. There seem to be few conclusions determining if
fracturing, some other industrial practice, or naturally occurring conditions
caused the problems. Many state that no scientific evidence exists of problems
related to fracturing.
No
doubt one of the major contributing factors to not being able to answer the
question of the industry’s effects on people and the environment is its
exemption or exclusion from such laws as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act,
Safe Drinking Water Act, Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act,
and others.
Exempt
From the Law
Gas
and oil construction activities are exempt from getting a permit for any waste
water released from gas and oil exploration, production, process, or treatment
operations. Except for diesel fuel, any underground injection of wastes is
allowed.
The
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act was created to help communities
prepare for emergencies due to hazardous substance spills or releases (into the
air, for instance). It allows the collection of data on releases and transfers
of listed toxic chemicals. Oil and gas facilities are exempt from providing
this information.
Right
to Know
Activities
under the Mineral Leasing Act, including the exploration and extraction of
natural gas, are covered by a legal finding that they have no significant
impact on the human environment unless the public can prove otherwise, which
obviously becomes a lot more difficult when gas and oil companies aren’t
required to disclose much if any information.
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