Fracking Has Not Had Big Effect on Water Supply, EPA Says, Noting Risks

"WASHINGTON — A landmark Environmental Protection Agency report on the impact of hydraulic fracturing has found no evidence that the contentious technique of oil and gas extraction has had a widespread effect on the nation’s water supply, the agency said Thursday.

However, the long-awaited draft report found that the techniques used in hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, do have the potential to contaminate drinking water.

It notes several specific instances in which the chemicals used in fracking led to contamination of water, including drinking water wells, but it emphasized that the number of cases was small compared with the number of fracked wells."

Coral Davenport reports for the New York Times June 4, 2015.

SEE ALSO:

"Fracking Not a 'Widespread Risk' To Drinking Water: U.S. EPA " (Reuters)

"EPA: Fracking's No Big Threat To Water" (Politico)

"EPA: No Widespread Harm To Drinking Water From Fracking" (AP)

"EPA Study Finds No 'Widespread' Impact on Drinking Water" (Greenwire)

Source: NY Times, 06/05/2015