EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study

On November 14-16, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a series of five technical roundtables focused on each stage of the water cycle, as defined in the study plan for EPA's Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources. In this study, each stage of the cycle is associated with a primary research question:

• Water acquisition: What are the possible impacts of large volume water withdrawals from ground and surface waters on drinking water resources?
• Chemical mixing: What are the possible impacts of hydraulic fracturing fluid surface spills on or near well pads on drinking water resources?
• Well injection: What are the possible impacts of the injection and fracturing process on drinking water resources?
• Flowback and produced water: What are the possible impacts of flowback and produced water (collectively referred to as "hydraulic fracturing wastewater") surface spills on or near well pads on drinking water resources?
• Wastewater treatment and waste disposal: What are the possible impacts of inadequate treatment of hydraulic fracturing wastewater on drinking water resources?

Based on feedback from the November 2012 roundtables, EPA will host in-depth technical workshops to address specific topics in greater detail. EPA believes a transparent, research-driven approach with significant stakeholder involvement can address questions about hydraulic fracturing.

A link to the report and its findings can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/hfstudy/pdfs/summary-of-technical-roundtables.pdf