EPA Announces Schedule to Develop Natural Gas Wastewater
Standards
Announcement is part of administration’s priority to ensure
natural gas development continues safely and responsibly
US-EPA
20 October 2011
CONTACT: Enesta Jones
jones.enesta@epa.gov
202-564-7873 202-564-4355
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
announcing a schedule to develop standards for wastewater
discharges produced by natural gas extraction from underground
coalbed and shale formations. No comprehensive set of national
standards exists at this time for the disposal of wastewater
discharged from natural gas extraction activities, and over the
coming months EPA will begin the process of developing a proposed
standard with the input of stakeholders – including industry and
public health groups. Today’s announcement is in line with the
priorities identified in the president’s Blueprint for a Secure
Energy Future, and is consistent with the Secretary of Energy
Advisory Board recommendations on steps to support the safe
development of natural gas resources.
"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."
Recent technology and operational improvements in extracting
natural gas resources, particularly shale gas, have increased gas
drilling activities across the country. Production from shale
formations has grown from a negligible amount just a few years ago
to almost 15 percent of total U.S. natural gas production and this
share is expected to triple in the coming decades. The sharp rise
in domestic production has improved U.S. energy security and
created jobs, and as with any resource the administration is
committed to ensuring that we continue to leverage these resources
safely and responsibly, including understanding any potential
impact on water resources.
Shale Gas Standards:
Currently, wastewater associated with shale gas extraction is
prohibited from being directly discharged to waterways and other
waters of the U.S. While some of the wastewater from shale gas
extraction is reused or re-injected, a significant amount still
requires disposal. As a result, some shale gas wastewater is
transported to treatment plants, many of which are not properly
equipped to treat this type of wastewater. EPA will consider
standards based on demonstrated, economically achievable
technologies, for shale gas wastewater that must be met before
going to a treatment facility.
Coalbed Methane Standards:
Wastewater associated with coalbed methane extraction is not
currently subject to national standards for being directly
discharged into waterways and for pre-treatment standards. Its
regulation is left to individual states. For coalbed methane, EPA
will be considering uniform national standards based on
economically achievable technologies.
Information reviewed by EPA, including state supplied wastewater
sampling data, have documented elevated levels of pollutants
entering surface waters as a result of inadequate treatment at
facilities. To ensure that these wastewaters receive proper
treatment and can be properly handled by treatment plants, EPA
will gather data, consult with stakeholders, including ongoing
consultation with industry, and solicit public comment on a
proposed rule for coalbed methane in 2013 and a proposed rule for
shale gas in 2014.
The schedule for coalbed methane is shorter because EPA has
already gathered extensive data and information in this area, EPA
will take the additional time to gather comparable data on shale
gas. In particular, EPA will be looking at the potential for
cost-effective steps for pretreatment of this wastewater based on
practices and technologies that are already available and being
deployed or tested by industry to reduce pollutants in these
discharges.
This announcement is part of the effluent guidelines program,
which sets national standards for industrial wastewater discharges
based on best available technologies that are economically
achievable. EPA is required to publish a biennial outline of all
industrial wastewater discharge rulemakings underway. EPA has
issued national technology-based regulations for 57 industries
since 1972. These regulations have prevented the discharge of more
than 1.2 billion pounds of toxic pollutants each year into US
waters.
More information: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/304m/