API Group Director of Upstream and Industry Operations Erik Milito welcomed recently announcement from the EPA that said flawed water testing results from Pavillion, Wyo., would not be part of its hydraulic fracturing review.

“America needs to know EPA is employing appropriate scientific methods for its water quality testing,” said Milito. “EPA has to do a better job because another fatally flawed water study could have a big impact on how the nation develops its massive energy resources.”

As former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson stated back in 2011, while the Pavillion work was ongoing, there is no “proven case where the fracking process itself has affected water.” Two years later, EPA has yet to demonstrate any evidence of hydraulic fracturing linked to groundwater contamination. EPA’s work at Pavillion, Wyo., joins Parker County, Texas and Dimock, Penn., as examples of unsound science leading to unsupported conclusions. Technical reports released by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) showed that USGS groundwater sampling results contradicted EPA’s results and that the EPA monitoring wells created for the testing were unsuitable for groundwater quality assessment.

“Hydraulic fracturing is a proven and safe engineering technology that is driving the country forward with an unprecedented energy boom,” Milito added. “We promote best practices and comply with state and federal regulators. Our environmental performance is strong. It is a shame this reality is sometimes overshadowed by misinformation generated by faulty procedures and analysis from a federal agency. EPA should not only drop the Pavillion work from consideration, it should fully retract it.”

About API
API is a national trade association that represents all segments of America’s technology-driven oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 500 members – including large integrated companies, exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms – provide most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.7 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers $85M a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested over $2T in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.