Govt. Scientists Admit They Deceived the Public About Fracking's Impact on Drinking Water

[G_j]

http://www.alternet.org/environment/shocker-govt-scientists-admit-they-deceived-public-about-frackings-impact-drinking-water


Shocker: Govt. Scientists Admit They Deceived the Public About Fracking's Impact on Drinking Water
There will be heavy pressure to revise the EPA’s conclusion — and the oil and gas industry will have major egg on its face.

By Justin Gardner / The Free Thought Project

Five years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was commissioned by Congress to undertake a study on the impacts of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on drinking water. This newer method of oil and gas extraction involves the pumping of highly pressurized water, sand and chemicals into underground rock formations.

Fracking has driven the boom in U.S. oil production and contributed to the steep drop in gasoline prices, but the environmental impacts of this relatively new technique are not well understood.

The EPA’s draft study—released in June to solicit input from advisers and the public -found that fracking has already contaminated drinking water, stating in the report:

“We found specific instances where one or more mechanisms led to impacts on drinking water resources, including contamination of drinking water wells…

Approximately 6,800 sources of drinking water for public water systems were located within one mile of at least one hydraulically fractured well … These drinking water sources served more than 8.6 million people year-round in 2013…

Hydraulic fracturing can also affect drinking water resources outside the immediate vicinity of a hydraulically fractured well.”

...more...

[elleng]

1. Think they give a crap about egg on their face?

It's become HABITUAL for industry to lie to the public (starting? with tobacco?) They just wouldn't be good ole boys if they DIDn't lie!

[truedelphi]

2. I share your anger, especially knowing they will start saying that the EPA's study is flawed.

Then they will put together their own 2,950 Industry-sponsored studies, all of which show you can drink and shower in the waste waters of fracking with no harmful effects.

[elleng]

3. It seems we've really lost our way,

EVERYONE expected to lie, NO consequences, and not just in business. Very concerned about the world in which my grandchildren will live, and their parents have to deal with.

[G_j]

4. Flint, Michigan comes to mind

for some reason...

[elleng]

6. Exactly,

and unfortunately too numerous and commonplace to remember.

[Octafish]

10. They just don't care about human life.

Apart from their own, of course.

[shanti]

5. yet they continue to do so

[Octafish]

7. Cheney. Richard Bruce Cheney. The guy's got a place in Dubai...

"Scientific advisory panels at the Department of Energy and the EPA have enumerated ways the industry could improve and have called for modest steps, such as establishing maximum contaminant levels allowed in water for all the chemicals used in fracking. Unfortunately, these recommendations do not address the biggest loophole of all. In 2005 Congress—at the behest of then Vice President Dick Cheney, a former CEO of gas driller Halliburton—exempted fracking from regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Congress needs to close this so-called Halliburton loophole, as a bill co-sponsored by New York State Representative Maurice Hinchey would do. The FRAC Act would also mandate public disclosure of all chemicals used in fracking across the nation."

-- Scientific American, Nov. 2011, "Safety First, Fracking Second"

[arikara]

11. Cheney again. That guy's got a place waiting for him in hell

and that's where he belongs.

[pangaia]

12. The wrathful dieties will not be kind to this man.

[MsLeopard]

13. That's why he has taxpayer financed hearts

He doesn't want to go to hell. The bastard has had government health care through all of his six heart attacks and his heart transplant, yet he relentlessly works to take health care from We the Peasants.

[chapdrum]

18. And five darn diddly draft deferments

Gamin' the system, his party's specialty.

[DhhD]

15. The end of the evil one is inevitable. The Dark spirits will come in the end.

[grntuscarora]

8. When it comes to the almighty dollar,

we common people just don't count. Offer lead-tainted water to our kids, or poison water supplies with fracking contaminants--people are expendable.



Capitalism is killing the planet. Another world is possible.

[2naSalit]

9. Also, we must remember..

that W and Darth implanted a number of career track lackeys to numerous agencies before leaving office. This means there were lots of people in key positions who were "placed", shall we say, in order to sabotage the Obama admin. from within the administration. It's impossible to say how much damage they have been able to do.

[NBachers]

14. Yes

[raindaddy]

16. Considering they turned the Gulf into a toxic cesspool how much more egg can one face take?

Bring back the era where Presidents don't load their administrations with industry and bring back public advocates to oversight positions and start regulating the hell out of these SOBs...

[Ferd Berfel]

17. Everyone in volved needs to be in jail for teh rest of their miserable lives