House Panel to Probe Hydraulic Fracturing
Associated Press
19 February 2010
WASHINGTON - An oil and gas drilling technique that is becoming more
widespread is drawing scrutiny from lawmakers concerned that it may
pose a hazard to human health by tainting drinking water and harming
the environment.
Top Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent letters
Thursday to eight oil and gas companies seeking more information about
chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fracking." The
process injects vast quantities of water, sand and chemicals
underground to force open channels in sand and rock formations so that
oil and natural gas will flow.
Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the panel's chairman, said hydraulic
fracturing could help unlock vast supplies of domestic natural gas once
thought unattainable, but he added that lawmakers need to weigh the
risks.
"As we use this technology in more parts of the country on a much
larger scale, we must ensure that we are not creating new environmental
and public health problems," Waxman said in a statement.
Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., who chairs an energy subcommittee, worked
with Waxman last year on a landmark bill to impose limits on
climate-changing greenhouse gases. Markey said natural gas can play an
important role in developing so-called clean energy, but must be
obtained in a way that does not harm the environment.
Fracking has been around for decades and has come under increasing
scrutiny as drilling crews flock to the Marcellus Shale, a rock bed the
size of Greece that lies about 6,000 feet beneath New York,
Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. The technique also is used in
Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and other Western states.
Waxman and Markey said they hope to find more information on some of
the chemicals used in the process, including benzene, toluene,
ethylbenzene and xylene.
A 2004 study by the Environmental Protection Agency said there was no
evidence that fracking threatens drinking water. Critics, including a
veteran engineer in the regional EPA office in Denver, argued that the
report's methodology was flawed.
A provision in the 2005 energy bill that prevented the EPA from
regulating fracking was called the "Halliburton loophole" by foes.
Halliburton Co., an oilfield services company, pioneered hydraulic
fracturing.
Houston-based Halliburton was among those receiving letters Thursday,
along with several other large hydraulic fracking companies, including
BJ Services Co. and Schlumberger, both of Houston.