HYDRAULIC FRACKING: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, PERMITS, AND PERMITTING PROCESS Chandra Theegala, PhD, PE Professor Biological & Agricultural Engineering LSU & LSU AgCenter Kura Bhaskar, PhD, PE Professor & Interim Chair Associate Dean – Program Dev. Civil & Environmental Engineering University of New Orleans
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HYDRAULIC FRACKING: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, PERMITS, AND PERMITTING PROCESS
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HYDRAULIC FRACKING: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, PERMITS, AND
PERMITTING PROCESS
Chandra Theegala, PhD, PE Professor
Biological & Agricultural Engineering
LSU & LSU AgCenter
Kura Bhaskar, PhD, PE Professor & Interim Chair
Associate Dean – Program Dev.Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of New Orleans
Acknowledgements
Assistance received by Ms. Poojitha Aleti, who is a graduate student at UNO in Civil & Environmental Engineering Department is acknowledged.
Chemical Number of Products that Contain Specified Chemical (on the left)
Methanol 342
Isopropanol 274
Crystalline silica 207
Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether 126
Ethylene glycol 109
Hydro treated light petroleum distillates
89
Sodium hydroxide 80
CHEMICALS REPEATING IN MANY COMPOUNDS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS•Water – Major
•Air – Due to combustion and transport activities
•Solid / Hazardous Wastes - Due to chemicals transported, stored and handled
Health Effects Due to Chemicals Used in Hydraulic Fracking
• Congenital heart defects.
• Sinus problems, eye burning, severe headaches, persistent cough and skin rashes.
• Hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells).
• Damage to the spleen, liver, and bone marrow.
• High blood pressure, and nerve disorders
IMPACT ON SURFACE WATER
Three risks to drinking water that can occur on the surface.
Depletion of water sources.
Spills and leaks of fracking chemicals and fluids.
Mismanagement of fracking waste.
Four risks to drinking water that can occur below ground surface are related to:
Well construction, cementing and casing.
Out-of-zone growth.
Neighboring oil and gas wells.
Natural fracture networks.
IMPACT ON GROUND WATER
ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS AND PROCESS
Environmental Permits and Process•Federal
•State▫General State Guidelines▫Pennsylvania▫Louisiana
Certain Exemptions for Hydraulic Fracturing from Federal Environmental Laws*(as Per Energy Policy Act of 2005)
• Clean Water Act:▫ Regulates quality standards for surface water and
provides structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into water .
• Clean Air Act:▫ Authorizes EPA to regulate air pollutant emissions and to
protect public health and welfare.
• Safe Drinking Water Act▫Statues regulating quality of water whether from
ground or underground sources, that are potentially designed for human consumption.
*William J. Brady and James P. Crannell.
Exemptions (Contd..)
• National Environmental Policy Act:▫ Concerns about major environmental impacts of any
federal action that significantly affects environment.
• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act:▫ Statute to regulate the generation, transportation,
treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste.
• Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act▫ National Legislation designed to help communities
protect public health, safety, and the environment from chemical hazards.
Certain Exemptions/Clarifications•The CWA exempts stormwater discharges
•Whereas, discharges resulting from construction activities are not exempt
•Surface water discharges of flowback are regulated by the NPDES
Certain Exemptions/Clarifications (..Contd.)
•The underground injection of fluids and proppants (other than diesel) are excluded from UIC of the SDWA
•Underground injection of flowback is regulated by the UIC program.
•Oil and gas exploration and production activities are exempted from EPCRA.
• NRDC urges the use of key management practices to minimize the risks associated with fracking activities. This includes:
• Federal regulation of all hydraulic fracturing under the Safe Drinking Water Act
• Regulation of toxic oil and gas waste under federal and state hazardous waste laws
• Stronger standards and enforcement under the federal Clean Water Act and state laws.
NRDC’s Efforts
IOGCC’s Efforts
• IOGCC - Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission
• IOGCC member states have all stated that there have been no cases where hydraulic fracturing has been verified to have contaminated drinking water.
• Member states of IOGCC passed a resolution in January 2009 Urging congress not to remove the exemption for Hydraulic Fracturing from the provisions of the safe drinking water act.
• Each state has it’s own regulations regarding Hydraulic Fracturing
Critical Disclosure Information for Permitting
• Distance from well to aquifers.
• Surface water drains.
• Drinking water sources nearby.
• Pressure, volume, type and source of the base fluid.
• Source of the base fluid.
Pennsylvania Regulations• Permit: Obtain permit from PA Department of
Environmental Protection by submitting plan for construction and stimulation of fracking well.
• Drilling distances: Gas drilling must not occur within 200 feet of drinking water supplies.
• Water contamination: Drillers are responsible for contamination if it occurs within 1000 feet from the well and within 6 months after well completion.
• Ground water Contamination: State legislation requires drillers to report the quantity and chemical content of produced water created by well.
• Produced water disposal: Limit on TDS in produced water before disposal is 2000 mg/L.
• Well closing: The state requires drilling companies to plug wells after production ceases.
• Surface disturbance: Pennsylvania requires the submission of an erosion and sedimentation plan to the DEP before drilling can begin.
Pennsylvania Regulations (Contd.)
Louisiana regulations• Operator must obtain work permit from
Louisiana department of natural resources(DNR) by submitting plan for construction and stimulation of fracking well.
• Drilling permit must also be taken.
• DNR requires well casings of different depths which depends on depth of well.
• Flow back from hydraulic Fracturing must be stored in tanks or pits and are exempt from Louisiana hazardous waste regulations.
• Temporary containment pits must be closed within 6 months of well completion to protect soil and water.
• Before closing the pits, their content must be tested for pH, heavy metals, oil and grease content.
• Operator is responsible for handling and transportation of waste for disposal.
• Operators must disclose the composition and volume of fracking fluids they use after completing the well.