Scientists find fracking contaminated Wyoming water after EPA halted study

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Scientists find fracking contaminated Wyoming water after EPA halted study

Dangerous levels of chemicals found in underground water,
while waste was dumped in unlined pits and barriers to protect
groundwater were inadequate

Oliver Milman in San Francisco
Thursday 7 April 2016 21.55 BST

Two scientists have highlighted dangerous water contamination from a fracking operation in Wyoming, three years after the US Environmental Protection Agency decided to abandon its investigation into the matter.

The report found there were dangerous levels of chemicals in the underground water supply used by the 230 residents of Pavillion, a small town in central Wyoming. Levels of benzine, a flammable liquid used in fuel, were 50 times above the allowable limit, while chemicals were dumped in unlined pits and cement barriers to protect groundwater were inadequate, the research found.

Dominic DiGiulio worked with Stanford academic Robert Jackson on the research after the EPA decided to ditch its own study into the situation at Pavillion, which came to light after residents complained about the smell and taste of their water. DiGiulio’s work for the EPA was abruptly halted and handed over to state authorities in Wyoming, which have said there are no firm plans to take action over the issue.

Using publicly available information and freedom of information requests, DiGiulio and Jackson have published a report in Environmental Science & Technology that examines what went wrong at Pavillion. The research finds that workers were drilling at very shallow depths, as little as 700ft underground, placing the fracking operation uncomfortably close to the drinking water aquifer that supplies the wells used by Pavillion residents.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/07/wyoming-fracking-water-contamination-dangerous-chemicals

Related: Impact to Underground Sources of Drinking Water and Domestic Wells from Production Well Stimulation and Completion Practices in the Pavillion, Wyoming, Field (Environmental Science & Technology)

[SoLeftIAmRight]

1. Many Many Thanks

when we break through the layers of earth that have taken millions of years to form - there is not fix

one of the great blunders - if humans live long they will look back at this crazy period and cry

[stillwaiting]

2. I hope Bernie is highlighting Hillary's strong support and ties to the fracking industry in Wyoming.

The stakes are just too damn high right now for all of us.

Pointing out truths is not negative campaigning.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

7. Don't worry dog, he has pros on his team. She's toast in WY.

[Dont call me Shirley]

3. The mic wants their water wars, no wonder Halliburton created such a toxic assault on our clean

water supplies.

[Kip Humphrey]

4. Hillary promoted & advocated for the use of fracking technology worldwide.

WIN! Bernie & ALL of us! WIN!

[ozone_man]

5. What goes around, comes around.

Fracking, Panama Papers, Iraq war, Libya, ..., the list gets longer every day.

[Samantha]

6. We seem to be getting the best reporting on controversial matters from the Guardian

I use to read the Guardian religiously, and now I remember why.

Thanks for posting this. This is horrendous.

Sam

[shadowmayor]

8. Not usually a fan of fracking but

If it's so damned great for Wyoming, how about a well in the Cheney's living room?

[vkkv]

9. What did they expect? WY is full of Republicans.. so is South

Dakota !!