GULP

EPA: Fracking Doesn't Spoil All Water

No “widespread” damage.

The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday released its assessment of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water and found it to be largely safe. “We did not find evidence that these mechanisms have led to widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water resources in the United States,” the EPA concluded after a national assessment. “Although proximity of hydraulic fracturing activities to a drinking water resource is not in and of itself sufficient for an impact to occur, it does increase the potential for impacts.” The EPA said a small number of drinking-water sites were polluted from fracking chemicals used to loosen rock and earth to bring up oil and gas.