Study finds no evidence fracking waste harms streams

February 18, 2020  kallanishenergy.com

A new federal study found no evidence oil and gas production in northern Pennsylvania has contaminated the state forest service’s rivers and streams, Kallanish Energy learns.

The study, published earlier this month in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) concluded there were no signs wastewater from fracked wells had entered any of more than two dozen streams running through the Marcellus.

“This study hypothesized the existence of a quantifiable relationship between the intensity of disturbance from Marcellus Shale gas development and changes in water chemistry, microbial community structure, and macroinvertebrate community composition in headwater streams in the Pennsylvania state forests system,” according to the study, reviewed by Kallanish Energy.

“No quantifiable relationships were identified between the intensity of O&G development, water composition, and the composition of benthic (bottom-dwelling) macroinvertebrate and microbial communities. No definitive indications that hydraulic fracturing fluid, flowback water, or produced water have entered any of the study streams were found.”

The study’s authors included representatives from the Bureau of Forestry within the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Division of Water Quality at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Rebecca Oyler, the Pennsylvania legislative director for the National Federation of Independent Business, told Pennsylvania Business Report the study shows fracking can provide affordable energy for the state’s economy without significant environmental risk.

“The study just released by PNAS confirms what we’ve known all along,” Oyler told Pennsylvania Business Report. “The responsible development of Pennsylvania’s natural gas resources is not incompatible with protecting our environment.”

The results were also welcomed by an industry currently being pummeled in terms of prices for their produced product.

More than one presidential candidate has come out against fracking specifically (Independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders from Vermont) while another touts 100% “clean” energy ((Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts).

The study was led by the U.S. Geological Survey and partially funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. It monitored the waters in 25 rural streams on State Forest Service lands located in the Marcellus play. The research team collected water samples from the “headwater” streams over a two-year period.

Views: 70

Reply to This

Support GoHaynesvilleShale.com

Not a member? Get our email.

Groups



© 2024   Created by Keith Mauck (Site Publisher).   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service