Evaluation of Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking) Plays for Potential Impact on USACE-Managed Waterways.

摘要

A recent study entitled "Impacts of Shale Gas Wastewater Disposal on Water Quality in Western Pennsylvania" by Warner et al. (2013) established that discharges of treated fluids from hydraulic fracturing operations (hydrofracturing or "fracking") to increase petrochemical (natural gas and petroleum) production resulted in elevated environmental contamination in the form of dissolved ions (chloride and bromide). The discharges also resulted in naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM, primarily radium) in both water and sediments. This study, which was conducted in Pennsylvania in production areas associated with the Marcellus Shale, has raised concerns that fracking operations could impact waterways managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The purpose of this study was to investigate known areas of fracking to evaluate any areas where impacts could occur. The study was conducted on two scales: first, over the area of the contiguous lower 48 states, and second, on the Marcellus Shale region, which was a more focused evaluation.