The shale gas extraction process and its impacts on water resources

Review of European Community and International Environmental Law

Volumn 20, Issue 3, 2011, Pages 300-312

  Reins, Leonie ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF LEUVEN   (Belgium)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION; EUROPEAN UNION; REGULATORY FRAMEWORK; SHALE; WATER RESOURCE;

UNITED STATES;

EID: 84859240742     PISSN: 09628797     EISSN: 14679388     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9388.2012.00733.x     Document Type: Review

References (55)

1. See, for example, J. Donovan, 'Shale Gas Blasts Open World Energy Market', Sunday Times (1 November 2009), found at http://business.timesonline. co.uk/tol/business/industry-sectors/natural-resources/article6898015.ece.
2. See, for example, G. Jones, 'Missile Defense, Shale Gas Top Obama Agenda in Poland', Reuters (25 May 2011), found at http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/ 05/25/us-obama-poland- idUSTRE74O3DH20110525.
3. N. Gupta et al., Shale Gas: A Strategic Imperative for India (Deloitte, 2010), at 3.
4. For further information on fracking fluids and their use, see J.D. Arthur et al., An Overview of Modern Shale Gas Development in the United States (ALL Consulting, undated), at 11.
5. A.J. Bailey, 'The Fayetteville Shale Play and the Need to Rethink Environmental Regulation of Oil and Gas Development in Arkansas', 63:4 Arkansas Law Review (2010), 815, at 819ff.
6. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 'Draft Plan to Study the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources' (EPA, February 2011), at s. 6.1.1, found at http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/0/ D3483AB445AE61418525775900603E79/$File/ Draft+Plan+to+Study+the+Potential+Impacts+ of+Hydraulic+Fracturing+on+Drinking+Water+Resources-February+ 2011.pdf.
7. A list of the used chemicals in the extraction process in the United States has been published by the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, Chemicals Used in Hydraulic Fracturing (Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, 18 April 2011), found at http://democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ Hydraulic%20Fracturing%20Report%204.18.11.pdf.
8. See, for example, M. Brown, Fuel and Energy Market in Poland (Mamiński & Partners Law Office, 2010).
9. See also M. Cauley et al., 'An Overview of the State and Federal Environmental Regulation of the Oil and Gas Development of the Fayetteville Shale', 44:14 Arkansas Lawyer (2009), 1, at 1.
10. For more information, see Natural Gas Europe, Romania Explores Shale Gas Possibilities (Natural Gas Europe, 16 September 2011), found at http://www.naturalgaseurope.com/romania-shale-gas- possibilities.
11. F. Meißner and D. Naumenko, 'Non-conventional Gas Regulation in Europe: Implications for Ukraine', Policy Paper Series, PP/03/2011 (Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting, 2011), at 9. For the applicable law regarding shale in Poland, see Act of 4 Feb ruary 1994 on Geological and Mining Law (Journal of Laws, 2005, no 228, item 1947 as amended); Act of 27 April 2001 on Environmental Protection (Journal of Laws, 2008, No 25, item 150, as amended); Act of 27 April 2001 on Waste (Journal of Laws, 2010, No 185, item 1243, as amended); Act of 18 July 2001 on Water Law (Journal of Laws, 2001, No 115, item 1229, as amended).
12. Class I is for storing the most toxic waste and subject to the strictest conditions. For more information, see EPA, 'Underground Injection Control Program: Classes of Wells' (EPA, 31 October 2011), found at http://water.epa. gov/type/groundwater/uic/wells.cfm.
13. For other requirements, see M. Tiemann et al., Hydraulic Fracturing and Safe Drinking Water Act Issues (Congressional Research Service, 2011), at 10.
14. For a detailed analysis of the history of fracking regulation, see H. Wiseman, 'Untested Waters: The Rise of Hydraulic Fracturing in Oil and Gas Production and the Need to Revisit Regulation', 20:1 Fordham Environmental Law Review (2010), 115, at 142.
15. See H. Wiseman, 'Regulatory Adaptation on Fractured Appalachia', 21:11, Villanova Environmental Law J. (2010), 229, at 243.
16. For more information about the introduced bills to date, see A. Andrews et al., Unconventional Gas Shales: Development, Technol ogy, and Policy Issues (Congressional Research Service, 2009), at 1.
17. See FRAC Act, s. 587, text of Senate bill, found at http://www.govtrack. us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s112-587; text of HR 1084: Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2011, text of House bill, found at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h112-1084.
18. HR Rep. No. 93-1185, reprinted in 1974 US CCAN 6454, found in H. Wiseman, n. 40 above, 185ff (emphasis added).
19. See H. Wiseman, n. 40 above, at 185ff. Furthermore, the EPA has announced a study to 'understand the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water resources'. For more information, see EPA, 'Draft Hydraulic Fracturing Study Plan' (EPA, 5 January 2012), found at http://water.epa.gov/ type/groundwater/uic/class2/hydraulicfracturing/index.cfm.
20. It was introduced by Senator Bob Casey and Representative Diana DeGette. For more information see Unitearian Universialist Service Committee, 'Bill to Repeal Fracking Exemption in Safe Drink ing Water Act Introduced' (USCC, March 2011), found at http://www.uusc.org/blog/entry/2600/bill-to-repeal-fracking- exemption-in-safe-drinking-water-act-introduced
21. E. Waeckerlin, 'EPA's Guidance on Diesel Fracking Fluid May Signal a Broader Regulatory Reach' (EPA, 8 June 2011), found at http://www. frackinginsider.com/regulatory/epa-has-posted-on-its/.
22. Independent Petroleum Association of America and US Oil and Gas Association v. United States EPA, Case 10-1233, Doc. No. 1263435, US Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit, 'Petition for Review' (8 December 2010), found at http://www.frackinginsider.com/IPAA%20Petition.pdf.
23. M. Wilt, 'Imminent EPA Guidance on Fracking Set to Destroy Jobs?', Forbes (12 February 2011), found at http://www.forbes. com/sites/wlf/2011/12/02/ imminent-epa-guidance-on-fracking-set-to- destroy-jobs/.
24. See the decision of Coastal Oil & Gas Corp. and Coastal Oil & Gas USA, L.P. v. Garza Energy Trust et al., No. 05-0466 (29 August 2008) (Supreme Court of Texas), found at http://www.supreme.courts. state.tx.us/historical/ 2008/aug/050466.htm.
25. D. Rahm, 'Regulating Hydraulic Fracturing in Shale Gas Plays: The Case of Texas', 39:5 Energy Policy (2011), at 2974-81
26. Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), 'Natural Gas Drilling in the Delaware River Basin' (DRBC, 18 November 2011), found at http://www.state.nj.us/ drbc/naturalgas.htm.
27. For more information on Special Protection Waters, see DRBC, 'Special Protection Waters' (DRBC, September 2008), found at http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/ spw.htm.
28. DRBC, 'Water Quality Regulations' (DRBC, 8 December 2010), found at http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/regs/WQregs.pdf.
29. DRBC, 'Draft Natural Gas Development Regulations (DRBC, 8 November 2010), found at http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/naturalgas- REVISEDdraftregs- factsheet110811corrected.pdf.
30. M. Darowski, 'Legal Challenge' (European Oil and Gas, 30 October 2010), found at http://www.europeanoilandgas.co.uk/article-page. php?contentid= 11537&issueid=352.
31. See also Europe Unconven tional Gas, Safety: Our Priority (Europe Unconventional Gas, 2011), found at http://www.europeunconventionalgas.org/home/ safetysustainability/safety-our-priority.
32. Europa, 'Quality of Drinking Water' (Europa, 22 September 2006), found at http://europa.eu/legislation-summaries/environment/water-protection-management/ l28079-en.htm.
33. See, for further information, Europa, 'Natural Mineral Waters' (Europa, 07 November 2007), found at http://europa.eu/legislation-summaries/other/l21129- en.htm.
34. For more information, see European Commission Environment, 'Derogations to the Drinking Water Directive' (European Commission, 16 November 2011), found at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-drink/derogations-en.html.
35. A. Wiercinski et al., 'Legal Aspects of Exploration and Exploitation of Shale Gas and Tight Gas in Poland', 8:4 Oil, Gas & Energy Law Intelligence (2010), at 1.
36. Ministry of the Environment, Republic of Poland, 'Shale Gas under the Environmental Control' (9 May 2011), found at http://www.mos.gov.pl/artykul/ archiwum/123-newsroom/15169-shale-as-under-the-environmental-control.html.
37. W. Bagiński, 'Shale Gas in Poland: The Legal Framework for Granting Concessions for Prospecting and Exploration of Hydrocar bons', 32:1 Energy Law J. (2010), 145, at 145, 154.
38. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 'Summary of the Clean Water Act' (EPA, 11 August 2011), found at http://www.epa.gov/regulations/laws/cwa.html.
39. For more information see EPA, 'National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System' (EPA, 25 August 2011), found at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/.
40. EPA, 'Attachment to Memorandum from James Hanlon, Titled, "Natural Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale under the NPDES Program" ' (EPA, 16 March 2011), found at http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/hydrofracturing-faq.pdf.
41. J. Hanlon, 'Natural Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale NPDES Program Frequently Asked Questions' (EPA, 17 March 2011), at 6.
42. Independent Petroleum Association of America, 'Guidance Docu ment: Reasonable and Prudent Practices for Stabilization (RAPPS) of Oil and Gas Construction Sites' (April 2004), found at http://www.ipaa.org/issues/hot- topics/docs/RAPPS.pdf.
43. Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, 'Water Quality Control Commission, Regulation No. 61, Colorado Discharge Permit System Regulation' (12 December 2011), found at http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/ regulations/wqccregs/61-2011(12).pdf.
44. See Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, 'Colorado Stormwater Program Factsheet' (February 2008), found at http://www.cdphe.state. co.us/wq/permitsunit/POLICYGUIDANCEFACTSHEETS/factsheets/SWFactsheet.pdf.
45. See K. Howell, 'More Oversight Sought for Hydraulic Fractur ing', New York Times (4 November 2009), found at http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/11/04/ 04greenwire-more-oversight-sought- for-hydraulic-fracturing-35961.html.
46. See Europa, 'Waste: Hazardous Waste' (Europa, 16 November 2011), found at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/hazardous-index.htm.
47. J. Ciechanowicz, 'The Development of Waste Management Law in Poland', in H.-J. Koch and J. Schurmann (eds), Das EG- Umweltrecht und seine Umsetzung in Deutschland und Polen (Nomos, 2005), 73, at 75.
48. See, for more information, Agence France-Presse (AFP), 'Brus sels Seeks EU Shale Gas Rules', France 24 (9 September 2011), found at 〈http://www.france24. com/en/20110909-brussels-seeks-eu- shale-gas-rules-oettinger〉
49. A. Petersen, 'Unconventional Gas in Europe: Opportunities and Risks' (Henry Jackson Society, 6 January 2011), found at http://www. henryjacksonsociety.org/stories.asp?id=1893.
50. See FracFocus, Chemical Disclosure Registry (FracFocus, undated), found at http://fracfocus.org/.
51. Railroad Commission of Texas, 'Railroad Commissioners Adopt One of Nation's Most Comprehensive Hydraulic Fracturing Chemi cal Disclosure Requirements' (Railroad Commission of Texas, 13 December 2011), found at http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/pressreleases/2011/121311.php.
52. State of Colorado, 'Gov. Hickenlooper Hails Fracking Disclosure Rules as National Model' (13 December 2011), found at http://www.colorado.gov/cs/ Satellite/GovHickenlooper/CBON/1251611065764.
53. Louisiana Office of Conservation, 'Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation Operations (LAC 43:XIX.118)', 37:10 Louisiana Register (2011), at 3064.
54. P.S. Banda, 'Colorado Approves Disclosure of Fracking Chemicals' (13 December 2011), found at http://www.deseretnews. com/article/700206660/Colorado- approves-disclosure-of-fracking- chemicals.html.
55. For more information, see E. Louka, Overcoming National Barriers to International Waste Trade: A New Perspective on the Transnational Movements of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes (Graham & Trotman, 1994), at 34-72.