Sabrina Eaton reports that a long-awaited U.S. EPA study has concluded that hydraulic fracturing, a technique for oil and gas extraction commonly called fracking and used widely in U.S. , can damage groundwater.\n\nThe final version of the report, which has been in the works for five years, reverses earlier drafts that said there was no evidence fracking systemically contaminates groundwater.\n\nGroundwater problems can occur near old, abandoned oil and gas production wells, and ranged in severity from temporary changes in water quality to contamination that made drinking water wells unusable. But EPA said data gaps kept the agency from being able to calculate how often fracking affects drinking water, or how severe problems usually are.\n\nIt said problems most often arose when ...\n\n1. Water was used for hydraulic fracturing in areas with low water availability.\n\n2. Chemicals, fluids and gasses were spilled or leaked into groundwater from wells with inadequate mechanical integrity, aka old wells.\n\n3. Fluids used in hydraulic fracturing were injected directly into groundwater\nInadequately treated fracking wastewater was discharged into surface water.\n\n4. Fracking wastewater stored or disposed of in unlined pits seeped into groundwater.\nTo reach its conclusions, EPA says it conducted its own research, reviewed over 1,200 cited scientific sources and gathered input from engaged stakeholders.\n\n5. EPA Advisor, Thomas Burke, said the assessment would provide the scientific foundation for local decision makers, industry and communities that are looking to protect public health and drinking water resources and make more informed decisions about hydraulic fracturing activities.\n\n6. Oil and gas producers denounced the study conclusions as a political swipe at fracking before the Obama leaves office. It was released shortly after President-elect Donald Trump, a fracking advocate, said he wants to appoint a vocal opponent of EPA energy industry restrictions as the new EPA Chief.
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