Governor Mead On Implications of Hydraulic Fracking In Wyoming [Audio]

The Environmental Protection Agency’s draft study on Pavillion wells is scientifically questionable and more testing is needed, according to Governor Matt Mead. For several years now residents near Pavillion have complained about their water wells. Due to the number of complaints the state of Wyoming formed a working group to investigate the problem. Members of the group include residents, state agencies, Tribes, EPA and the Bureau of Land Management.

A new study released from EPA is based on data from two test wells drilled in 2010 and tested once that year and once in April, 2011. The two test wells are deeper than drinking wells and up until a month ago the data from the test wells was not available to the rest of the working group.

Many of the questions being asked in regards to drilling in the Pavillion area are about the lack of replication of testing (typically findings from only two sampling events suggest that more sampling is needed before conclusions can be drawn). There have also been questions about the compound 2-BE, which was found in 1 sample out of 4 that were taken, and why it was only found in results from one lab, while other labs tested the exact same water sample and did not find it.

Earlier testing had shown problems with a few drinking wells near Pavillion. The working group will keep exploring causes with those wells and as of now, the people with concerns about their drinking water are being provided water by industry. The state of Wyoming has also commissioned a study to look at alternative water supplies for those residents.

Information and audio courtesy of the Office of Governor Matt Mead.