DEP Tells EPA: PA Was Already Testing Water For Drilling Wastewater Contaminants

In a letter April 6 to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Shawn Garvin, Acting Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Michael Krancer said Pennsylvania was already taking the steps needed to test streams and water supplies for radioactivity and other contamination from drilling wastewater even before EPA asked for testing.

The letter was in response to a letter from EPA on March 7 asking for additional testing as a result of several articles in the New York Times. (see 3/14/2011 PA Environment Digest)

"Unfortunately, your letter, along with the recent New York Times articles, overlooks DEP's strong and ongoing efforts to protect the environment and public health," said Krancer. "More specifically, the radionuclides and other pollutants of concern (barium and strontium) that were highlighted in your letter had all been previously identified by DEP and targeted in regulation, guidance, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting process, in-stream sampling, and public drinking water sampling."

Krancer reminded EPA that all in-stream water sampling to date, going back to November and December of last year, has shown levels at or below normally naturally occurring background levels of radiation.

"We are guided by sound science and the facts," said Krancer. "In that regard, we continue to agree with Steve Heare, head of EPA's Drinking Water Protection Division, when he stated, "I have no information that states aren't doing a good job already [regulating fracking]. Again, based on current data and facts here in Pennsylvania, any backtracking from that statement would be, in my opinion, unjustified."

In addition to providing EPA with other requested information, Krancer suggested DEP and EPA meet quarterly to share "agency-wide priorities, environmental surveillance plans, and regulatory updates."

A copy of the DEP response is available online.