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EPA Issues New Guidelines on Fracking with Diesel Fuel

The EPA has proposed new guidelines for states on issuing permits to drillers who use diesel fuel as a component in fracking oil and natural gas wells. The EPA is forbidden from regulating fracking under the Safe Drinking Water Act, unless it involves the use of diesel fuel.
“The draft guidance outlines for EPA permit writers, where EPA is the permitting authority, requirements for diesel fuels used for hydraulic fracturing wells, technical recommendations for permitting those wells, and a description of diesel fuels for EPA underground injection control permitting. The draft guidance describes diesel fuels for these purposes by reference to six chemical abstract services registry numbers. The agency is requesting input on this description.”
Soon after the EPA made that announcement, environmental groups issued statements demanding the EPA ban diesel fuel from fracking operations.

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