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Underground Injection Control; Request for Information of Ground Water Contamination Incidents Believed To Be Due to Hydraulic Fracturing of Coalbed Methane Wells

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: July 30, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 146)]
[Notices]
[Page 39395-39397]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30jy01-97]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[WH-FRL-7019-3]
 
Underground Injection Control; Request for Information of Ground 
Water Contamination Incidents Believed To Be Due to Hydraulic 
Fracturing of Coalbed Methane Wells

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting a 
study to assess the potential for Hydraulic Fracturing of coalbed 
methane (CBM) wells to endanger underground sources of drinking water 
(USDW). State oil and gas agencies in States with CBM production 
reported through a 1998 Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) survey 
that Hydraulic Fracturing has not contributed to water quality 
degradation. In an effort to be thoroughly informed, EPA believes it 
should also provide an opportunity for other agencies, non-governmental 
organizations and citizens who may have evidence of ground water 
contamination caused by Hydraulic Fracturing of CBM wells to provide 
such information. Through this notice, EPA is inviting governmental and 
regulatory agencies, such as local drinking water and public health 
agencies, as well as the public at large to report to EPA known 
incidents of ground water contamination believed to be associated with 
Hydraulic Fracturing of CBM wells. The review of such information is 
part of a larger EPA effort to assess the potential for Hydraulic 
Fracturing of CBM wells to endanger USDWs.
    For the purposes of this study, aquifer dewatering and water 
discharge issues frequently associated with CBM development are 
independent of the Hydraulic Fracturing process, and EPA will not be 
addressing those issues in this effort.

DATES: Please submit information by August 29, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the Comment Clerk, docket number W-
01-09, Water Docket (MC 4101), Rm EB 57, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Washington, DC 20460. The record for 
this study is established under docket number W-01-09. The record is 
available for inspection from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 
excluding legal holidays at the Water Docket, East Tower Basement, Rm 
EB 57, USEPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington DC. For access to docket 
materials, please call 202-260-3027 to schedule an appointment. 
Comments may be hand-delivered to the Water Docket, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency; 401 M Street SW., East Tower Basement, Rm EB 57, 
Washington DC, 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Leslie Cronkhite; United States 
Environmental Protection Agency, MC 4606, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 260-0713; e-mail: 
cronkhite.leslie@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   

Background

    Hydraulic Fracturing is a common technique used to improve the flow 
of oil and gas to production wells. In high-permeability formations, 
oil and gas flows into the wellbore in response to pumping. In low-
permeability formations, however, oil and gas flow rates may be low. 
Hydraulic Fracturing can create a permeable pathway deep into the 
formation, which allows hydrocarbons to move toward the well at a 
faster rate. Hydraulic Fracturing is widely used in the oil and gas 
industry, and is an essential tool for exploiting alternative 
hydrocarbon resources, such as coalbed methane, that would be 
unavailable through conventional drilling practices.
    In order to hydraulically fracture the rock formation, water 
mixtures are injected into the well at high pressure for a few hours, 
creating a linear fracture in the formation rocks. ``Proppants'' such 
as sand or plastic beads are emplaced into the fracture to hold it open 
and to create a permeable pathway into the well. After the fracturing 
process concludes, the well is pumped for production. In most cases the 
resulting fracture is a flat, planar feature oriented vertically along 
the wellbore, extending from 70 to 500 feet from the well bore.
    Prior to 1997, EPA had not considered regulating Hydraulic 
Fracturing because the Agency believed that this well production 
stimulation process did not fall under the Underground Injection 
Control (UIC) program's authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act 
(SDWA). In 1994, the Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation (LEAF) 
challenged that interpretation by petitioning EPA to withdraw Alabama's 
EPA-approved Section 1425 (SDWA) UIC program because LEAF believed the 
State should regulate Hydraulic Fracturing for CBM development as 
underground injection. EPA rejected LEAF's petition. LEAF challenged 
EPA's decision and in 1997, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 
that Hydraulic Fracturing of coalbeds in Alabama fit within the SDWA 
definition of underground injection, LEAF v. EPA, 118 F.3d 1467, 1478 
(11th Cir. 1997). In response to this decision, Alabama modified its 
UIC program. In December 1999, EPA approved revisions to Alabama's 
Class II UIC program.
    In response to the Court's decision and concerns voiced by 
individuals who may be affected by CBM development, EPA is conducting a 
study to assess the potential for Hydraulic Fracturing of CBM wells to 
endanger USDWs. State oil and gas boards surveyed by the GWPC in 1998 
generally reported that Hydraulic Fracturing of CBM wells has not 
resulted in contamination of ground water. EPA recognizes there may be 
other agencies, such as local drinking water and public health 
agencies, or individuals that know of incidents of contamination 
resulting from Hydraulic Fracturing of CBM wells of which we are not 
presently aware. In an effort to be thorough, the UIC program is 
inviting the public at large to provide EPA with information 
identifying incidents of contamination of ground water from Hydraulic 
Fracturing of CBM wells. Data submitted in response to this notice will 
be considered in an effort to determine if additional investigation is 
needed on a national level to assess the environmental impacts of 
Hydraulic Fracturing of CBM wells.
    Please note, if you have previously submitted information regarding 
Hydraulic Fracturing of CBM wells in response to the 1998 GWPC survey, 
there is no need to resubmit that information.
    If you are responding to this FR notice by reporting incidents, 
please describe in detail incidents in which Hydraulic Fracturing of 
CBM wells was known or believed to be the cause of ground water 
contamination and any follow-up actions by agencies or other entities 
of which you are aware. Pertinent information may include technical 
data describing the nature of the problems reported, any follow-up 
actions by local, State, or Federal agencies, and any data or findings 
regarding sources of contamination. Specific information including 
water quality sampling data and data on the location of a contamination 
incident and its timing relative to a known Hydraulic Fracturing event 
would be useful.
    For CBM wells to operate efficiently and economically, it is common 
during the initial stages of production for large volumes of water to 
be pumped to the surface to reduce the water pressure. This pressure 
reduction helps to liberate the methane gas from the open spaces

[[Page 39397]]

within the coal. In certain areas, this ``dewatering'' has led to 
ground water depletion and produced water discharge issues, which, for 
the purposes of this notice, are independent of the Hydraulic 
Fracturing process. In areas where dewatering has become a concern, 
citizens, State agencies, producers, and the regional EPA offices are 
working in concert to understand and mitigate potential problems. If 
you have concerns regarding environmental impacts from CBM development 
separate from Hydraulic Fracturing, such as dewatering or surface water 
discharge, please contact your State oil and gas agency or the EPA 
regional office in your area. Contact information can be obtained from 
EPA's web site http://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/states.html or from the 
Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

    Dated: July 20, 2001.
Diane C. Regas,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 01-18882 Filed 7-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

 
 

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