The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently released a report entitled, “Enhanced EPA Oversight and Action Can Further Protect Water Resources From the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing.” The report evaluates how EPA and state agencies have used existing authorities to address the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on water resources, and also recommends two areas for EPA improvement. First, the OIG recommends that EPA improve its oversight of Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit issuance for the use of diesel fuels in hydraulic fracturing. Second, the report recommends that EPA develop an action plan to address public comments submitted in response to the agency’s May 2014 advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) related to possible federal chemical disclosure requirements. The OIG found that EPA does not have a plan for responding to the comments submitted in response to the 2014 ANPR, nor for making a final determination on whether to proceed with a formal rulemaking.
Natural Gas Intelligence reports that the Marcellus Shale Coalition has awarded Pennsylvania-based consulting firm Environmental Standards Inc. with a contract to manage a study that will analyze the presence of methane in groundwater samples. Specifically, the study will seek to establish a consensus standard for analyzing light gases in groundwater, both before and after the drilling process. Although there are several published procedures for analyzing methane in water sources, none are widely adopted, nor has the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published any particular one. The goal is to establish uniform standards that will provide more reliable test results. The study will examine the practices of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s laboratory, as well as 10-15 other private laboratories across the country. The final report is expected by the end of the first quarter of 2015.
On May 11, 2013, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) published notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin of its proposed changes to its list of Wild Trout Streams. The proposed changes would add 47 stream sections and remove 3 stream sections from the list. The PFBC also published notice of its proposed changes to its Class A Wild Trout Streams, which would add 17 stream sections to that list. Both proposed changes will be considered by the PFBC at its next meeting on July 15 and 16, 2013. In the meantime, the public may submit comments to the PFBC within the next 30 days (by June 10, 2013).