Despite industry claims that not a single instance of a freshwater aquifer being contaminated by hydraulic fracturing exists, an article in today’s New York Times points out that an EPA Study conducted over two decades ago suggests otherwise. A drinking water well in Jackson County, W. Va. known as the “Mr. Parson’s water well” was Read More

On July 27, 2011, the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission voted to place a moratorium on injection well activities in a large area stretching from North of Heber Springs to South of Conway. The area has experienced over one thousand earthquakes since companies began disposing of fracking fluids in injection wells in the area. A Read More

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has fined Poseidon Energy Services for a variety of violations present at its fracking waste disposal facility in White County. The ADEQ has inspected the facility three times in the past 90 days, noting violations each time. The facility was not storing the fracking sludge properly, and had Read More

A committee of the Arkansas Legislature has given final approval to Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission Rule B-19. This rule requires disclosure of fracking fluid contents. Fracking fluid contents disclosures, to date, can be found here: https://www.aogc.state.ar.us/Well_Fracture_Companies.htm

The United States Geological Survey is conducting water quality monitoring and research in several parts of the Fayetteville Shale. The intent of this research is to provide background information on water quality in the shale area as fracking sites continue to proliferate in the area. Work has begun in Faulkner County, with plans to survey Read More

Concerns with fracking activities have been focused on its impacts on groundwater and surface water supplies. However, air pollution caused by fracking is also a significant concern for individuals who reside near a drilling site. Fracking sites use diesel engines to run pumps and other machinery. Heavy trucks regularly come and go from the sites, Read More

Over the past few days, state authorties have investigated two separate incidents involving fracking fluids which have threatened Greers Ferry Lake. Greers Ferry Lake provides drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people in North Central Arkansas. Fishermen in Clinton, Arkansas reported barrels in Choctaw Creek, just miles upstream from Clinton’s drinking water intake. The Read More

On May 17, 2011, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection fined Chesapeake Energy over $1 million for incidents resulting in groundwater contamination and a tank fire. Unfortunately, this administrative action comes after private property groundwater supplies and land have been damaged. Incidents such as these are likely to become more prevalent in Arkansas as fracking Read More