Oil and gas companies injected hundreds of millions of gallons of hazardous or carcinogenic chemicals into wells in more than 13 states from 2005 to 2009, according to an investigation by Congressional Democrats.
Source: U.S. Congress. Committee On Energy and Commerce (2011) Read More
Debate over whether hydraulic fracturing falls under the Safe Drinking Water Act remains central to the regulatory framework governing shale. The statute’s exemptions — often referred to as the “Halliburton loophole” — limited federal oversight of underground injection practices, leaving primary authority to states.
Source: U.S. EPA (2010) Read More
The U.S. Geological Survey provided baseline data on aquifers, stream flows, and groundwater systems — the quiet science underpinning larger arguments. Without baseline measurements, contamination claims and regulatory decisions rest on shaky ground. In drilling regions, hydrology mattered as much as politics.
Source: United States Geological Survey (2009) Read More