EPA 601/R-12/011 | December 2012 | www.epa.gov/hfstudy Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources PROGRESS REPORT United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development this page intentially left blank Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources PROGRESS REPORT US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development Washington, DC December 2012 EPA/601/R-12/011 Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources: Progress Report December 2012 Disclaimer Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. ii Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources: Progress Report December 2012 Table of Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................... 1 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1. Stakeholder Engagement ...................................................................................................... 6 2. Overview of the Research Program .................................................................................................. 8 2.1. Research Questions ............................................................................................................ 12 2.2. Environmental Justice ......................................................................................................... 21 2.3. Changes to the Research Program..................................................................................... 22 2.4. Research Approach ............................................................................................................ 23 3. Analysis of Existing Data ................................................................................................................. 25 3.1. Literature Review ................................................................................................................ 25 3.2. Spills Database Analysis ..................................................................................................... 31 3.3. Service Company Analysis ................................................................................................. 39 3.4. Well File Review .................................................................................................................. 46 3.5. FracFocus Analysis ............................................................................................................. 54 4. Scenario Evaluations ........................................................................................................................ 62 4.1. Subsurface Migration Modeling ........................................................................................... 62 4.2. Surface Water Modeling ...................................................................................................... 75 4.3. Water Availability Modeling ................................................................................................. 80 5. Laboratory Studies ........................................................................................................................... 94 5.1. Source Apportionment Studies ........................................................................................... 94 5.2. Wastewater Treatability Studies ........................................................................................ 101 5.3. Brominated Disinfection Byproduct Precursor Studies ..................................................... 107 5.4. Analytical Method Development ........................................................................................ 112 6. Toxicity Assessment ...................................................................................................................... 122 7. Case Studies .................................................................................................................................... 127 7.1. Introduction to Case Studies ............................................................................................. 127 7.2. Las Animas and Huerfano Counties, Colorado ................................................................. 131 7.3. Dunn County, North Dakota .............................................................................................. 137 7.4. Bradford County, Pennsylvania ......................................................................................... 142 7.5. Washington County, Pennsylvania ................................................................................... 148 7.6. Wise County, Texas .......................................................................................................... 153 8. Conducting High-Quality Science ................................................................................................. 159 8.1. Quality Assurance ............................................................................................................. 159 8.2. Peer Review ...................................................................................................................... 161 9. Research Progress Summary and Next Steps ............................................................................. 163 9.1. Summary of Progress by Research Activity ...................................................................... 163 9.2. Summary of Progress by Water Cycle Stage ................................................................... 165 iii Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources: Progress Report December 2012 Table of Contents 9.3. Report of Results............................................................................................................... 170 9.4. Conclusions ....................................................................................................................... 170 10. References ....................................................................................................................................... 172 Appendix A: Chemicals Identified in Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids and Wastewater ........................ 196 Appendix B: Stakeholder Engagement ................................................................................................. 246 Appendix C: Summary of QAPPs .......................................................................................................... 251 Appendix D: Divisions of Geologic Time .............................................................................................. 253 Glossary ................................................................................................................................................... 254 iv Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources: Progress Report December 2012 List of Tables Table 1. Titles and descriptions of the research projects conducted as part of the EPA’s Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources ................................................... 10 Table 2. Secondary research questions and applicable research projects identified for the water acquisition stage of the hydraulic fracturing water cycle ............................................................................. 15 Table 3. Secondary research questions and applicable research projects identified for the chemical mixing stage of the hydraulic fracturing water cycle ................................................................................... 16 Table 4. Secondary research questions and applicable research projects identified for the well injection stage of the hydraulic fracturing water cycle. .............................................................................................. 17 Table 5. Secondary research questions and applicable research projects identified for the flowback and produced water stage of the hydraulic fracturing water cycle ..................................................................... 19 Table 6. Secondary research questions and applicable research projects identified for the wastewater treatment and waste disposal stage of the hydraulic fracturing water cycle ............................................... 21 Table 7. Research questions addressed by assessing the demographics of locations where hydraulic fracturing activities are underway ............................................................................................................... 21 Table 8. Research activities and objectives ............................................................................................... 24 Table 9. Classifications of information sources with examples .................................................................. 26 Table 10. Description of factors used to assess the quality of existing data and information compiled during the literature review .......................................................................................................................... 27 Table 11. Chemicals identified by the US House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce as known or suspected carcinogens, regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) or classified