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February 19th, 2010

Gas fracturing probe starts

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Gas fracturing probe starts
U.S. House panel looks at safety; La. official calls action a ‘witch hunt’
By Deborah Barfield Berry • dberry@gannett.com • February 19, 2010
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WASHINGTON — A House committee launched an investigation Thursday into the safety of hydraulic fracturing and its impact on the environment.
Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, wrote to eight oil and gas companies questioning them about the chemicals they use for hydraulic fracturing, a process that uses pressure from water-based fluids to extract natural gas from shale.
While hydraulic fracturing could help expand the country’s natural gas reserves, precautions must be taken, Waxman said.
“As we use this technology in more parts of the country on a much larger scale, we must ensure that we are not creating new environmental and public health problems,” Waxman said in his letter. “This investigation will help us better understand the potential risks this technology poses to drinking water supplies and the environment, and whether Congress needs to act to minimize those risks.”
The move comes as communities debate the local impact of the process, which more and more oil and gas companies are using. That includes northwest Louisiana, home to the Haynesville Shale project.
Don Briggs, president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, called the effort a “witch hunt.”
“It’s a continuation of the administration’s efforts to get the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to control hydraulic fracturing, and that’s what they’ve been pushing for,” Briggs said.
Environmental groups have raised concerns that chemicals used in fracturing could contaminate drinking water and the air.
“We think it should it be federally regulated,” said Amy Mall, senior policy analyst with Natural Resources Defense Council.
Mall noted that Congress is considering legislation that would regulate the process.
“In the meantime, we need a lot more information,” she said. “We need to be looking at what’s going on with their practice. More and more of this activity is right in people’s back yards.”
Industry officials say the projects create jobs and bring in revenue.
Waxman’s letter asks company officials about the number of wells drilled using hydraulic fracturing in recent years, and the kinds of chemicals used. It also asks about the environment impact, which EPA plans to study.
Briggs said any EPA action probably would trigger lawsuits, including one from Louisiana.
“We’re certainly going to encourage it,” he said. “The states are doing a good job handling this. This is not about the environment. This is about controlling natural gas in the United States.”

Louisiana Oil & Gas Association -

U.S. House panel looks at safety; La. official calls action a ‘witch hunt’

WASHINGTON — A House committee launched an investigation Thursday into the safety of hydraulic fracturing and its impact on the environment.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, wrote to eight oil and gas companies questioning them about the chemicals they use for hydraulic fracturing, a process that uses pressure from water-based fluids to extract natural gas from shale.

While hydraulic fracturing could help expand the country’s natural gas reserves, precautions must be taken, Waxman said.

“As we use this technology in more parts of the country on a much larger scale, we must ensure that we are not creating new environmental and public health problems,” Waxman said in his letter. “This investigation will help us better understand the potential risks this technology poses to drinking water supplies and the environment, and whether Congress needs to act to minimize those risks.”

The move comes as communities debate the local impact of the process, which more and more oil and gas companies are using. That includes northwest Louisiana, home to the Haynesville Shale project.

Don Briggs, president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, called the effort a “witch hunt.”

“It’s a continuation of the administration’s efforts to get the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to control hydraulic fracturing, and that’s what they’ve been pushing for,” Briggs said.

Environmental groups have raised concerns that chemicals used in fracturing could contaminate drinking water and the air.

“We think it should it be federally regulated,” said Amy Mall, senior policy analyst with Natural Resources Defense Council.

Mall noted that Congress is considering legislation that would regulate the process.

“In the meantime, we need a lot more information,” she said. “We need to be looking at what’s going on with their practice. More and more of this activity is right in people’s back yards.”

Industry officials say the projects create jobs and bring in revenue.

Waxman’s letter asks company officials about the number of wells drilled using hydraulic fracturing in recent years, and the kinds of chemicals used. It also asks about the environment impact, which EPA plans to study.

Briggs said any EPA action probably would trigger lawsuits, including one from Louisiana.

“We’re certainly going to encourage it,” he said. “The states are doing a good job handling this. This is not about the environment. This is about controlling natural gas in the United States.”