EPA Science Advisory Board to Hold Public Meeting on Proposed
Research Approach for Studying the Potential Relationships Between
Hydraulic Fracturing and Drinking Water Resources
US-EPA press release
18 March 2010
Link: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-5956.htm
[Federal Register: March 18, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 52)]
Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of a Public Meeting
of the Science Advisory Board; Environmental Engineering Committee
Augmented for the Evaluation and Comment on EPA's Proposed Research
Approach for Studying the Potential Relationships Between Hydraulic
Fracturing and Drinking Water Resources
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science
Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public face-to-face
meeting of the SAB Environmental Engineering Committee (EEC). The SAB
EEC, augmented with other SAB members, will evaluate and comment on
EPA's proposed approach to study the potential public health and
environmental protection issues that may be associated with hydraulic
fracturing.
DATES: The meeting will be held on April 7, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 5
p.m., and April 8, 2010 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon (Eastern Daylight Time).
ADDRESSES: The Committee meeting will be held at the St. Regis Hotel
located at 923 16th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Members of the public who wish to
obtain additional information regarding this meeting may contact Mr.
Edward Hanlon, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA Science Advisory
Board (1400F), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone/voice mail: (202) 343-
9946; fax (202)
233-0643; or via e-mail at hanlon.edward@epa.gov.
General information about the EPA SAB, as well as any updates
concerning the meeting announced in this notice, may be found on the
SAB Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sab. Any inquiry regarding EPA's
planned research approach to study the potential public health and
environmental protection issues that may be associated with hydraulic
fracturing should be directed to Teri Richardson, EPA Office of
Research and Development (ORD), at richardson.teri@epa.gov or (513)
569-7949.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5
U.S.C., App. 2, notice is hereby given that the SAB EEC augmented with
other SAB members will hold a public meeting to evaluate and comment on
EPA's proposed approach to study the potential public health and
environmental protection issues that may be associated with hydraulic
fracturing performed for extraction of natural gas from geologic
formations. The SAB was established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 4365 to
provide independent scientific and technical advice to the
Administrator on the technical basis for Agency positions and
regulations. The SAB is a Federal Advisory Committee chartered under
FACA. The SAB will comply with the provisions of FACA and all
appropriate SAB Staff Office procedural policies.
In its Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriation Conference Committee Directive to
EPA, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a provision that urges
EPA to conduct analyses to assess the potential risks to drinking water
posed by hydraulic fracturing of formations including coalbeds and
shale for extraction of natural gas. Hydraulic fracturing (or
hydrofracking) generates vertical and horizontal fractures in
underground geologic formations to facilitate extraction of gas (or
oil) from the subsurface. While each formation has unique
characteristics and features, the general process involves drilling a
vertical well, extending the well bore horizontally into the formation,
removing water, injecting hydrofracking fluids and then extracting the
natural gas along with separation and management of fluids. To meet the
Congressional request, EPA's ORD has initiated a draft approach to
gather existing data and information including a stakeholder input
process; to catalog potential risks to drinking water supplies from
hydraulic fracturing; to identify data gaps; and to develop research
questions, research needs, and research products.
ORD is seeking evaluation and comment from the SAB regarding EPA's
proposed approach. Accordingly, the SAB EEC augmented with other SAB
members will hold a public meeting to evaluate and comment on ORD's
planned research approach to study the potential public health and
environmental protection issues that may be associated with hydraulic
fracturing.
Availability of Meeting Materials: The agenda and EPA's ORD proposed
research approach will be available on the SAB Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/sab in advance of the meeting.
Interested members of the public may submit relevant written or oral
information on the topic of this advisory activity for the SAB to
consider during the advisory process.
Oral Statements: In general, individuals or groups requesting an oral
presentation at this public meeting will be limited to five minutes per
speaker, with no more than a total of one hour for all speakers.
Interested parties should contact Edward Hanlon, DFO, in writing
(preferably via e-mail), at the contact information noted above, by
March 29, 2010 to be placed on the list of public speakers for the
meeting.
Written Statements: Written statements should be received in the SAB
Staff Office by March 29, 2010 so that the information may be made
available to the SAB EEC augmented with other SAB members for their
consideration. Written statements should be supplied to the DFO in the
following formats: one hard copy with original signature, and one
electronic copy via e-mail (acceptable file format: Adobe Acrobat PDF,
WordPerfect, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, or Rich Text files in
IBM-PC/Windows 98/2000/XP format). Submitters are requested to
provide two versions of each document submitted with and without
signatures, because the SAB Staff Office does not publish documents
with signatures on its Web sites.
Accessibility: For information on access or services for individuals
with disabilities, please contact Edward Hanlon at the phone number or
e-mail address noted above, preferably at least ten days prior to the
meeting, to give EPA as much time as possible to process your request.
Dated: March 11, 2010.
Anthony F. Maciorowski,
Deputy Director, EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office.