FILE- In this Nov. 3, 2010 file photo, marchers concerned with water
pollution protest against hydraulic fracturing and gas well drilling
as they cross the Rachel Carson Bridge on their way through town to
the Developing Unconventional Gas (DUG) East convention and
exhibition being held in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania officials say
there have been 370 complaints so far in 2013 alleging that oil or
natural gas drilling polluted or diminished the flow of water to
private water wells. But The Associated Press found that a lack of
detail in the data make it almost impossible to judge whether the
drilling boom is harming more individuals than in the past, or less.
Photo: Keith Srakocic, AP
PITTSBURGH (AP) — In at least four states that have nurtured the
nation's energy boom, hundreds of complaints have been made
about well-water contamination from oil or gas drilling, and
pollution was confirmed in a number of them, according to a
review that casts doubt on industry suggestions that such
problems rarely happen.
The Associated Press requested data on drilling-related
complaints in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Texas and
found major differences in how the states report such problems.
Texas provided the most detail, while the other states provided
only general outlines. And while the confirmed problems
represent only a tiny portion of the thousands of oil and gas
wells drilled each year in the U.S., the lack of detail in some
state reports could help fuel public confusion and mistrust.
The AP found that Pennsylvania received 398 complaints in 2013
alleging that oil or natural gas drilling polluted or otherwise
affected private water wells, compared with 499 in 2012. The
Pennsylvania complaints can include allegations of short-term
diminished water flow, as well as pollution from stray gas or
other substances. More than 100 cases of pollution were
confirmed over the past five years.
Just hearing the total number of complaints shocked
Heather McMicken, an eastern Pennsylvania homeowner who
complained about water-well contamination that state officials
eventually confirmed.
"Wow, I'm very surprised," said McMicken, recalling that she and
her husband never knew how many other people made similar
complaints, since the main source of information "was just
through the grapevine."
The McMickens were one of three families that eventually reached
a $1.6 million settlement with a drilling company. Heather
McMicken said the state should be forthcoming with details.
Over the past 10 years, hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has
led to a boom in oil and natural gas production around the
nation. It has reduced imports and led to hundreds of billions
of dollars in revenue for companies and landowners, but also
created pollution fears.
Extracting fuel from shale formations requires pumping hundreds
of thousands of gallons of water, sand and chemicals into the
ground to break apart rock and free the gas. Some of that water,
along with large quantities of existing underground water,
returns to the surface, and it can contain high levels of salt,
drilling chemicals, heavy metals and naturally occurring
low-level radiation.
But some conventional oil and gas wells are still drilled, so
the complaints about water contamination can come from them,
too. Experts say the most common type of pollution involves
methane, not chemicals from the drilling process.
Some people who rely on well water near drilling operations have
complained about pollution, but there's been considerable
confusion over how widespread such problems are. For example,
starting in 2011, the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection aggressively fought
efforts by the AP and other news organizations to obtain
information about complaints related to drilling. The department
has argued in court filings that it does not count how many
contamination "determination letters" it issues or track where
they are kept in its files.
Steve Forde, a spokesman for the
Marcellus Shale Coalition, the leading industry group in
Pennsylvania, said in a statement that "transparency and making
data available to the public is critical to getting this
historic opportunity right and maintaining the public's trust."
When the state Environmental Department determines natural gas
development has caused problems, Forde said, "our member
companies work collaboratively with the homeowner and regulators
to find a speedy resolution."
Among the findings in the AP's review:
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Hearst Communications, Inc.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/texas/article/Some-states-confirm-water-pollution-from-drilling-5115879.php