EPA Can’t Prove Junk Science: States Allowed To Conduct Their Own Studies On Fracking

CHEYENNE, Wyo. –  The U.S. Environmental  Protection Agency announced Thursday it is dropping its longstanding plan to  have independent scientists review its finding that hydraulic fracturing may be  linked to groundwater pollution in central Wyoming.

The EPA is standing by its findings, but state officials will lead further  investigation into the pollution in the Pavillion area. The area has been a  focus of the debate over whether fracking can pollute groundwater ever since the  EPA’s initial report came out in late 2011.

“We stand behind our work and the data, but EPA recognizes the state’s  commitment to further investigation,” said agency spokesman Tom Reynolds in  Washington, D.C. The EPA will let state officials carry on the investigation  with the federal agency’s support, he said.

Wyoming officials have been skeptical about the theory that fracking played a  role in the pollution at Pavillion, but Reynolds expressed confidence the state  could lead the work from here. He described the shift as the best way to ensure  Pavillion-area residents have a clean source of drinking water.

Even so, industry officials who have been doubtful about the EPA findings all  along praised the change as confirmation of their view that the science wasn’t  sound.

“EPA has to do a better job, because another fatally flawed water study could  have a big impact on how the nation develops its massive energy resources,” Erik  Milito, director of upstream and industry operations for the American Petroleum  Institute, said in a release.
Read More Here