Newswise — Brian Rahm is a post-doctoral researcher at the New York State Water Resources Institute at Cornell University whose expertise includes the potential effects of hydraulic fracturing on surface and ground water. The Water Resources Institute (WRI) is a federal and state mandated research and outreach institution charged with improving the management of water resources in New York and the nation.
Rahm comments on the recent release by the Environmental Protection Agency of data from drinking water testing near hydraulic fracturing sites in Pavillion, Wyo. He says:
“The well water test results in the recently released U.S. EPA report are not significantly different from earlier test results for the same well. While these new analyses provide a more detailed picture of the groundwater quality in one deep well, more data from a larger sampling of wells would be needed to reduce the uncertainties evident in the initial report regarding the source and extent of groundwater contamination in the area.
“That being said, the overall lessons learned from the original report remain relevant: regional practices, policies and environmental conditions matter; and best practices with respect to casing, cementing and wastewater handling are essential.”
Contact the Press Relations Office for information about Cornell's TV and radio studios.
RSS