Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its schedule to develop standards for wastewater discharges produced by natural gas extraction from underground coalbed and shale formations.
Right now we don't have national standards for disposal of wastewater discharged from natural gas extraction activities -- a fact that has been of concern to citizens and activists for many years.
As extraction technology has allowed development of shale gas resources, many parts of the United States are experiencing gas booms which many believe have led to significant threats to the health of people and nature. Shale gas now accounts for close to 15% of US gas production.
This sharp rise in domestic production has fans among political and industry supporters who say it has improved U.S. energy security and created jobs. Activists (and the Department of Defense!) argue that our ultimate security lies in energy efficiency and vigorous development of renewable and sustainable energy resources. And, though it's true many jobs have been created, US history has many stories of the "bust" side of fossil fuel extraction that can leave hundreds jobless, sometimes overnight.
The Obama administration has assured people that it is committed to safe and responsible leverage of all energy resources that includes protection of water:
"The president has made clear that natural gas has a central role to play in our energy economy. That is why we are taking steps -- in coordination with our federal partners and informed by the input of industry experts, states and public health organizations -- to make sure the needs of our energy future are met safely and responsibly,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "We can protect the health of American families and communities at the same time we ensure access to all of the important resources that make up our energy economy. The American people expect and deserve nothing less."
Currently, shale gas wastewater can't be discharged directly to US waterways. Some of this wastewater can be reused, but significant amounts still must be disposed. In cases where shale gas wastewater has been transported to treatment plants, it's been found that many are not able to remove contaminants. The EPA says it will consider standards based on demonstrated, economically achievable technologies, for shale gas wastewater that must be met before going to a treatment facility.
The EPA will also develop standards for disposal wastewater from coal bed methane extraction based on economically achievable technologies.
The EPA expects it will be ready to open a proposed coal bed methane wastewater rule for public comment in 2013, and for a proposed shale gas wastewater rule in 2014.
More information is available at EPA's Effluent Guidelines page. The official notice of this action has not been published yet in the Federal Register, but EPA has released a prepublication notice of its schedule to develop natural gas wastewater standards.
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