Ground Water Professionals Urge More Fracking Studies

Susan Phillips

Recent Stories

Susan Phillips tells stories about the consequences of political decisions on people's every day lives. She has worked as a reporter for WHYY since 2004. Susan's coverage of the 2008 Presidential election resulted in a story on the front page of the New York Times. In 2010 she traveled to Haiti to cover the earthquake. That same year she produced an award-winning series on Pennsylvania's natural gas rush called "The Shale Game." She received a 2013 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Journalism Award for her work covering natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania. She has also won several Edward R. Murrow awards for her work with StateImpact. In 2013/14 she spent a year at MIT as a Knight Science Journalism Fellow. She has also been a Metcalf Fellow, an MBL Logan Science Journalism Fellow and reported from Marrakech on the 2016 climate talks as an International Reporting Project Fellow. A graduate of Columbia School of Journalism, she earned her Bachelor's degree in International Relations from George Washington University.

January 31, 2012 | 12:36 PM

Susan Phillips / StateImpactPA

A view of the Delaware River in Milford, Pa.

The National Ground Water Association has issued public policy guidelines for natural gas drilling. The publication lists a number of recommendations, including more studies.

“NGWA recognizes that hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells is a mature technology and has been a widespread practice for many decades. While no widespread water quality or quantity issues have been definitively documented…NGWA believes additional studies, research and monitoring related to the potential for groundwater contamination from the installation, hydraulic fracturing, operation, and maintenance of oil and gas wells are needed.”

The group, made up of hydrogeologists, engineers, contractors and manufacturers who work in the ground water field, also called for full disclosure of chemicals used in the gas drilling process.

Disclosure of all chemicals used in the oil or gas well hydraulic fracturing process to the appropriate governmental entity

Proper construction and regular maintenance of oil or gas production wells to prevent the migration of natural and injected fluids that could endanger current or future drinking water sources

Best management practices or appropriate regulations to address surface spills and waste management related to hydraulic fracturing

Development of water supply plans in areas where water is scarce or the potential for water use conflicts exist.

For the full report, click here.