The definition of massive hydraulic fracturing varies, but generally refers to treatments injecting over 150 short tons, or approximately 300,000 pounds 6 metric. Blm plan to allow oil and gas explorat ion in montana struck down. This fluid is collected at the surface for proper disposal. Ferc is in a dominant position not just to shape the course of american energy independence and security, but also the environmental impact these dev elopments will cause. The national environmental policy act nepa requires federal agencies to consider the potential environmental consequen. National environmental policy act, 42 united states code sec. Titles and descriptions of the research projects conducted as part of the epas. Retrospective case study in northeastern pennsylvania, study. Hydraulic fracturing is a stimulation technique used to increase oil and gas. Epas study of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas on drinking water resources. Hydraulic fracturing also called fracking, fracing, hydrofracking, fraccing, fracing, and hydrofracturing is a well stimulation technique in which rock is fractured by a pressurized liquid. In addition to the second and third sampling rounds generally focusing on those locations that in the first round of. The focus of the ea will be on foreseeable future well stimulation activities requiring federal approval, not past.
Hydraulic fracturing and the national environmental policy act nepa. The regulation blm has repealed the hydraulic fracturing rule or 2015 rule was issued in 2015 following an extensive fiveyear rulemaking process. Higgins ny26, holt nj12 referred to the subcommittee on energy and power on 31520 h. February 7, 2020 protest resolution report for iii uncompahgre field office resource management plan. It starts at the end of the wellbore and moves toward the beginning. Hydraulic fracturing regulations in united states vermont journal. Requirements found at 25 pa, code chapter 287 specify the reporting, recordkeeping and waste stream analytical requirements for generators of hydraulic fracturing wastes. Longmont is defending its ordinance in court against oil and gas interests claiming that colorado state law preempts any municipal ban or moratorium on hydraulic fracturing. Environmental impact assessments and hydraulic fracturing. The process takes on the average, three to five days to complete. The national environmental policy act nepa of 1969 established a framework for. Also, several municipalities have attempted to ban hydraulic fracturing through zoning restrictions and other local laws, creating potential conflicts with oil and gas industry regulation at the state level. When a broader nepa document does not contain an analysis of. How, where, and its role in oil and gas article pdf available in journal american water works association 10611.
Wilderness workshop, a colorado environmental group, is appealing the u. The 2017 pbo is also unreliable in numerous other respects due to significant new. Study of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on. Hydraulic fracturing regulation in the united states sturm college. Selected issues congressional research service 1 introduction hydraulic fracturing is a technique used to recover oil and natural gas from underground low permeability rock formations. It is a technology used to enhance the flow of gasoil from a well, once the drilling is completed and the drilling rig is removed from the site. Epa examined whether ground water quality anomalies existed in the vicinity of gas wells and, if so, whether they could be attributed to hydraulic fracturing, or other activities. Examples and applications of hydraulic fracturing are abundant in geomechanics. Retrospective case studies northeastern pennsylvania. Procedure act apa, several federal land management statutes, and the national environmental policy act nepa. Its use along with horizontal drilling has been responsible for an increase in estimated u. Environmental protection agency, office of research and development \ord\.
Hydraulic fracturing has become a hot environmental discussion topic and a target of media articles and university studies during development of gas shales near populated areas. Nepa requires federal agencies to take a hard look at the environmental impacts. This report describes the retrospective case study for northeastern pennsylvania, which was conducted in bradford and susquehanna counties where some of the most intensive unconventional gas production from the devonianage marcellus shale has occurred. It is clear that native faults can have a significant impact on the hydraulic fracturing operation, but we address the question of whether such activities can cause a notable seismic event i. Nepa national environmental policy act nl no leasing. Epas study of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas on drinking water resources author u. Department of the interior doi, finalized the oil and gas. Hydraulic fracturing and the national environmental policy.
The national environmental policy act of 1969 nepa mandates that states conduct an environmental impact assessment eia prior to commencing hydraulic fracturing operations, unless the proposed project fits one of the five rebuttable presumptions that would not require an eia, such as the case where drilling had previously occurred on a. Hydraulic fracturing in new york state steven cohen and courtney small introduction hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking, is an important sustainability management issue in the united states. Hydraulic fracturing process hydraulic fracturing happens in small sections called stages. Hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas on drinking water resources. Hydraulic fracturing design and operations guidelines 1. In particular, the final seis relies on the unfounded assumption that only 12 zero to four hydraulic fracturing events will occur in the planning area each year, distorting its consideration of environmental impacts and findings of. The hydraulic fracturing process hydraulic fracturing is not a drilling technique.
Hydrofracking is a practice used to extract natural gas or oil from geological shale rock formations. Abstractthis crs report was prepared for members and committees of congress. Also, the nga designates ferc as the lead agency to do so. Environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing related to exploration and exploitation of unconventional natural gas deposits short version mindful also of its responsibility toward future generations, the state shall protect the natural foundations of life and animals by legislation and, in accordance with law and. Bureau of land management blms decision to suspend 25 oil and gas leases in the thompson divide pending a new study of potential environmental impacts. In particular, the final seis relies on the unfounded assumption that only 12 zero to four hydraulic fracturing events will occur in the planning area each year, distorting its consideration of environmental impacts and findings of significance. The studies were announced in response to a court ruling finding blm violated the national environmental policy act nepa by issuing leases for hydraulic fracturing without adequately considering its potential environmental impacts. Hydraulic fracturing fluid and natural gas cannot migrate through it. Pumpingvolume restrictions and provisions fors to notify the mniewr about hydraulic fracturing operations section 9. Apr 20, 2018 alternatives analysis under the national environmental policy act nepa. This week in hydraulic fracturing federal environmentalists appeal blm extension of colorado leases. City of boulder considers hydraulic fracturing ban. Therefore, ferc is a significant actor in the shale gas revolution.
Step 1 perforating the casing first, a perforating gun is lowered into a targeted position within the horizontal portion of the well. Hydraulic fracturing kansas corporation commission. Second, because the rmp is outofdate, the blm has not analyzed the impacts of hydraulic fracturing in the area and cannot conclude, without an indepth analysis at either the rmpeis level or the lease sale stage, that impacts will not be significant. Another panel at this conference will cover those lawsuits, and this paper does not cover them. The process involves the highpressure injection of fracking fluid primarily water, containing sand or other proppants suspended with the aid of thickening agents into a wellbore to create. Largely exempted from regulation clean air act 1970. Some locations in the study were sampled once, some twice, and some in all three rounds. Boem has approved at least 15 such permits off the coast of california alone. Hydraulic fracturing is a technique used to recover oil and natural gas from underground low permeability rock formations. Hydraulic fracturing 101 resource guide dickinson scholar. Epa conducted a retrospective case study in northeastern pennsylvania to. Boulder, colorado is now considering a ban on hydraulic fracturing, similar to that of the city of longmont, colorado. Hydraulic fracturing design and operations guidelines.
Massive hydraulic fracturing also known as highvolume hydraulic fracturing is a technique first applied by pan american petroleum in stephens county, oklahoma, usa in 1968. This white paper is written as a technical document to support the preparation of nepa compliant documents relative to the leasing of federal minerals in the new mexico state office. Study of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. California bakersfield fo bakersfield field office. Retrospective case study in northeastern pennsylvania. Apr 25, 2012 hydraulic fracturing and the national environmental policy act nepa. Although the united states has been stimulating well production with hydraulic fracturing fracking 1 since the 1940s, highvolume hydraulic fracturing hvhf combined with horizontal drilling is a relatively recent 2, 3 development with potential to adversely impact human health, environment, and water resources, with uncertainty about impacts and gaps in the. Hydraulic fracturing waste generation, transportation and disposal tracking requirements are integrated into deps residual waste regulations. Protestants comments on hydraulic fracturing were addressed to the extent possible at this stage in the ea appendix k, summary of comments and responses. Assessment of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing. Xavier becerra attorney general of california david z. She next highlighted the role of nepa in offshore hydraulic fracturing. Gas production from the marcellus shale depends on recent advances in horizontal drilling and. This area of northeastern pennsylvania has been the focus of natural gas.
Modeling of fault reactivation and induced seismicity. Hydraulic fracturing on federal and indian lands rule on march 29, 2015, after. The furor over fracturing and frac waste disposal was largely driven by lack of chemical disclosure and the pre2008 laws of some states. Hydraulic fracturing as guardians explained in its december 2017 lease sale comments,3 the current carlsbad rmpeis adopted in 1988, amended in 1997 does not analyze the significant impacts posed by hydraulic fracturing. Doiblmcac06020180082eis bakersfield field office supplemental eis analyzing hydraulic fracturing nepa register doiblmcac06020180082eis documents.
Selected legal issues congressional research service summary hydraulic fracturing is a technique used to recover oil and natural gas from underground low permeability rock formations. Federal policy and regulation of hydraulic fracturing. Crs report on hydraulic fracturing and nepa environmental xprt. Increased vertical depth restriction for hydraulic fracturing operations near the top of the bedrock surface section 7, j. Mineral leasing act imla, and the national environmental policy act nepa, and is arbitrary and capricious. Magmadriven dykes can be considered as natural examples, usually on. Article crs report on hydraulic fracturing and nepa.