EPA to Study Washington County Marcellus Shale Site

One of seven case studies being conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding hydraulic fracturing will be in Washington County, according to the department.

The EPA on Thursday announced the next steps in its congressionally mandated hydraulic fracturing study—and identified seven case studies to help inform the assessment of potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources.

According to a release, the sites identified—including a prospective Range Resources drill site here in Washington County—were selected following extensive input from stakeholders that included the public, local and state officials, industry, and environmental organizations.

To ensure the agency maintains the current timeline for the study, the EPA will begin field work in some of the selected regions this summer, the release indicated.

“This is an important part of a process that will use the best science to help us better understand the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water,” said Paul Anastas, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “We’ve met with community members, state experts and industry and environmental leaders to choose these case studies. This is about using the best possible science to do what the American people expect the EPA to do—ensure that the health of their communities and families are protected.” 

The studies, which will take place in regions across the country, will be broken into two study groups. Two of the seven sites were selected as prospective case studies where EPA will monitor key aspects of the hydraulic fracturing process throughout the life cycle of a well.

Five retrospective case studies were selected and will examine areas where hydraulic fracturing has occurred for any impact on drinking water resources.

The Washington County site has been selected for both.

"The information gathered from these case studies will be part of an approach that includes literature review, collection of data and information from states, industry and communities, laboratory work and computer modeling," the release indicates. "The combination of these materials will allow us to do a more comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources."

The study, it continues, will continue to use the best available science, independent sources of information, and will be conducted using a transparent, peer-reviewed process, to better understand any impacts associated with hydraulic fracturing. 

EPA invited stakeholders from across the country to participate in the identification of potential case studies through informational public meetings and the submission of electronic or written comments. Following thousands of comments, more than 40 case studies were nominated for inclusion in the study.

The case studies were identified, prioritized and selected based on a “rigorous” set of criteria. These criteria included proximity of population and drinking water supplies to activities, concerns about impaired water quality (retrospective only) and health and environmental impacts (retrospective only), and knowledge gaps that could be filled by the case study.

Sites were prioritized based on geographic and geologic diversity, population at risk, site status (planned, active or completed), unique geological or hydrology features, characteristics of water resources, and land use.

Reached Friday, Range Resources spokesman Matt Pitzarella said the Southpointe-based company welcomes the study.

“We’re very supportive of any fact and science based analysis, which is why we welcome this additional study. While gas drilling has brought tremendous benefits to the Commonwealth, it’s also brought questions and for some it’s brought concerns,” he said. “So further analysis should help to address those issues and hopefully further strengthen public trust. We expect the federal analysis to be consistent with the state’s. If they discover things the industry could do better, we'll be the first to help lead that charge.”

Pitzarella said the company has been in contact with EPA and other state and federal agencies on various matters over the last few months and years.

“We had previously committed to conducting a life cycle analysis with the National Energy Technology Lab through the Department of Energy several months ago. It’s my understanding that the NETL project may serve as the basis for the EPA study as well, which we welcome. But at this point it’s still very early,” he said. “It makes sense to select Washington County. There's a lot of activity and a lot of interest, so further study makes sense.”