[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95135-95136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31034]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9957-36-ORD]


Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts From the Hydraulic 
Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United States

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: EPA is announcing the availability of a final report titled, 
``Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts from the Hydraulic 
Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United 
States'' (EPA/600/R/16/236F), which was prepared by EPA's Office of 
Research and Development (ORD). This final report provides a review and 
synthesis of available scientific information concerning the 
relationship between hydraulic fracturing activities and drinking water 
resources in the United States.

DATES: This document was available on December 13, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The final report, ``Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: 
Impacts from the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water 
Resources in the United States'' is available primarily via the 
internet on EPA-ORD's hydraulic fracturing Web site at www.epa.gov/hfstudy. A limited number of paper copies are available from the 
Information Management Team, NCEA; phone: 703-347-8561; fax: 703-347-
8691. If you are requesting a paper copy, please provide your name, 
mailing address, and the document title.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Dayna Gibbons, Office of Research and 
Development; phone: 202-564-7983; or email: [email protected]. For 
technical information, contact Dr. Jeffrey Frithsen, Office of Research 
and Development; phone: 703-347-8623; or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Information About the Document

    EPA found scientific evidence that hydraulic fracturing activities 
can impact drinking water resources under some circumstances. The 
report

[[Page 95136]]

identifies certain conditions under which impacts from hydraulic 
fracturing activities can be more frequent or severe, to include:
     Water withdrawals for hydraulic fracturing in times or 
areas of low water availability, particularly in areas with limited or 
declining groundwater resources;
     Spills during the handling of hydraulic fracturing fluids 
and chemicals or produced water that resulted in large volumes or high 
concentrations of chemicals reaching groundwater resources;
     Injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids into wells with 
inadequate mechanical integrity, allowing gases or liquids to move to 
groundwater resources;
     Injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids directly into 
groundwater resources;
     Discharge of inadequately treated hydraulic fracturing 
wastewater to surface water; and
     Disposal or storage of hydraulic fracturing wastewater in 
unlined pits resulting in contamination of groundwater resources.
    Data gaps and uncertainties limited EPA's ability to fully assess 
the potential impacts on drinking water resources locally and 
nationally. Because of these data gaps and uncertainties, it was not 
possible to fully characterize the severity of impacts, nor was it 
possible to calculate or estimate the national frequency of impacts on 
drinking water resources from activities in the hydraulic fracturing 
water cycle.
    EPA's report advances the scientific understanding of hydraulic 
fracturing's impact on drinking water resources and can inform 
decisions by federal, state, tribal, local officials, industry, and 
communities to protect drinking water resources now and in the future.

    Dated: December 15, 2016.
Mary A. Ross,
Deputy Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2016-31034 Filed 12-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P