A new report released by the Environmental Protection Agency states that fracking could be to blame for groundwater pollution in Wyoming.
But geologists here in the Valley say we shouldn't have to worry about that here.
The nationwide groundwater fracking debate could soon be intensifying as a result of the new report. Officials with the EPA detected compounds likely associated with fracking chemicals in the groundwater beneath the small town of Pavilion, Wyoming.
Should such a report raise concerns here in eastern Ohio?
Local geologists say no.
"These were from vertical wells, and they were from a relatively shallow formation that actually was both a groundwater producing formation and an oil and gas producing formation," said Youngstown State University geologist Dr. Jeffrey Dick.
The difference between drilling and fracking in Ohio and Wyoming lies underground.
In Wyoming, because of its arid climate, all water wells need to be drilled deep. Groundwater is about 800 feet down, and the shale is not much further: only about another 400 to 500 feet. The result is the groundwater and shale becoming intermingled, making it toxic. In Ohio, water is only about 300 to 400 feet beneath the surface. Beyond that, you won't hit any shale for another 6,000 feet.
That means our groundwater, and the shale that's being fracked, is 15 times further apart than it is in the western part of the country.
"In Ohio, you'd never be allowed to drill an oil and gas well, let alone hydraulically fracture one in zones where we're producing groundwater for human consumption," said Dick.
Although these new study results shouldn't affect Ohioans, the Columbiana County Health Department started preparing more than a year ago, with a new private water monitoring program for residents.
"If they do have concerns about their drinking water, then we would encourage them to sample and try to do these things in advance of any drilling activity or other environmental activities in their area," said health Commissioner Wesley Vins.
To read the full EPA report,
click here. For more information on the shale drilling process around the country and here in the Valley, click the Shale News tab above. To read about some of the chemicals reportedly used in fracking,
click here.
