EPA’s draft assessment report “Draft Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking Water Resources”  was released for public comment and peer review in June 2015.  Peer review was completed by the EPA’s independent Science Advisory Board. Throughout the peer review process, members of the public had the opportunity to provide written and oral comments to the SAB. 

In August 2016, the SAB provided EPA with feedback on the draft assessment. EPA used the SAB's final comments and suggestions, along with relevant literature published since the release of the draft assessment, and public comments received by the Agency to revise and finalize the assessment.

EPA prepared responses to each of the comments and suggestions provided by the SAB. The detailed response to comments document may be found here.

Learn more about the SAB's peer review process for the draft assessment.