Natural gas: Five areas of concern
No one should have to trade their health or quality of life for cheap energy. EDF is fighting for tough rules and strict oversight.
Protect our groundwater
At a well site, groundwater can be contaminated through faulty well construction or chemical spills at the surface. In both cases, strong rules and oversight are the keys to public safety.
Risks
Poor well casing or cement jobs can increase the chance of methane leaks or groundwater contamination, so it's crucial that every aspect of the drilling process—including how the well is constructed—is executed properly.
Progress
We're in constant contact with key government and industry decision-makers, helping them understand—and implement—important quality controls: The right standards, rules and oversight for well construction and design.
Success
Following EDF's efforts in Arkansas, Pennsylvania and Ohio, each of these states have enacted regulations to advance best practices for well integrity.
Safely dispose of wastewater
Groundwater can also be contaminated by mishandling waste water. Water used in the process of hydraulic fracturing, as well as water released from the shale along with the gas must be treated and disposed of properly.
Risks
If fracking wastewater is mishandled, it can contaminate surface and groundwater. Deep well injection, a common disposal method, forces wastewater deep underground and may be linked to small tremors. Proper siting and operation of these injection wells is important to minimize this risk.
Progress
We're pressing for measures to reduce spills, improve the handling of chemicals and assure proper treatment and/or disposal of wastewater.
Success
The regulatory guidelines from the multi-stakeholder group STRONGER (State Review of Oil and Natural Gas Environmental Regulation) provide a good foundation for reducing risks from waste and water management. We have helped promote these standards across the country.
Safeguard the air we breathe
As natural gas is extracted and processed air pollutants can leak into the atmosphere.
Risks
Emissions of toxic and smog-forming pollutants—like benzene, a known carcinogen—can lead to health problems like asthma, cancer and long-term lung damage in people who live nearby.
Progress
We aggressively advocate for clean air standards for all industrial and energy sources, including shale gas, at both the state and federal level.
Success
In April 2012, we were involved in passing, and are now defending, strong national clean air standards for oil and natural gas that reduce pollution and protect human health and the environment.
Ensure climate benefits
Natural gas—comprised mostly of methane—burns cleaner than coal, but when it is vented or leaks from wells and pipelines uncombusted, it is a powerful greenhouse gas. The good news is, we have the technology to avoid venting and fix leaks.
Risks
The more methane is vented or leaks into the atmosphere, the less using natural gas—as compared to other fossil fuels—delivers climate benefits. We must end venting and fix leaks.
Progress
We're working with academic experts and industry scientists to help measure and reduce existing methane leakage rates, and educating industry and others about the importance of fixing leaks at all stops along the natural gas supply chain – from production well to burner tip.
Success
EDF is collaborating with industry and academic partners on five studies to measure methane leakage rates across natural gas operations. Also, our scientists developed a modeling tool to show how methane leaks affect climate change.
Empower communities
People have a right to know what chemicals are being used in their community, what is being emitted into the air, and what is in the wastewater being produced on site. They also have the right to exercise their traditional authorities over this intensive industrial activity.
Risks
If companies aren't required to name the chemicals they use, or monitor the air emissions they create, it's impossible for a community to assess risks. And if companies can proceed without input from communities, people may be overwhelmed by traffic and noise.
Progress
We're asking governments to require companies to name the chemicals they use, so communities can make informed decisions. And we're pushing to preserve the traditional rights of communities to make decisions about development within their borders.
Success
In 2011 and 2012, EDF won chemical disclosure regulations in Arkansas, Texas, Colorado, Montana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. In 2012, EDF and our allies supported a Pennsylvania court ruling that overturned a state law limiting local oversight of natural gas development—a huge win for community rights.
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1. Protect our groundwater
At a well site, groundwater can be contaminated through faulty well construction or chemical spills at the surface. In both cases, strong rules and oversight are the keys to public safety.
Risks
Poor well casing or cement jobs can increase the chance of methane leaks or groundwater contamination, so it's crucial that every aspect of the drilling process—including how the well is constructed—is executed properly.
Progress
We're in constant contact with key government and industry decision-makers, helping them understand—and implement—important quality controls: The right standards, rules and oversight for well construction and design.
Success
Following EDF's efforts in Arkansas, Pennsylvania and Ohio, each of these states have enacted regulations to advance best practices for well integrity.
2. Safely dispose of wastewater
Groundwater can also be contaminated by mishandling waste water. Water used in the process of hydraulic fracturing, as well as water released from the shale along with the gas must be treated and disposed of properly.
Risks
If fracking wastewater is mishandled, it can contaminate surface and groundwater. Deep well injection, a common disposal method, forces wastewater deep underground and may be linked to small tremors. Proper siting and operation of these injection wells is important to minimize this risk.
Progress
We're pressing for measures to reduce spills, improve the handling of chemicals and assure proper treatment and/or disposal of wastewater.
Success
The regulatory guidelines from the multi-stakeholder group STRONGER (State Review of Oil and Natural Gas Environmental Regulation) provide a good foundation for reducing risks from waste and water management. We have helped promote these standards across the country.
3. Safeguard the air we breathe
As natural gas is extracted and processed air pollutants can leak into the atmosphere.
Risks
Emissions of toxic and smog-forming pollutants—like benzene, a known carcinogen—can lead to health problems like asthma, cancer and long-term lung damage in people who live nearby.
Progress
We aggressively advocate for clean air standards for all industrial and energy sources, including shale gas, at both the state and federal level.
Success
In April 2012, we were involved in passing, and are now defending, strong national clean air standards for oil and natural gas that reduce pollution and protect human health and the environment.
4. Ensure climate benefits
Natural gas—comprised mostly of methane—burns cleaner than coal, but when it is vented or leaks from wells and pipelines uncombusted, it is a powerful greenhouse gas. The good news is, we have the technology to avoid venting and fix leaks.
Risks
The more methane is vented or leaks into the atmosphere, the less using natural gas—as compared to other fossil fuels—delivers climate benefits. We must end venting and fix leaks.
Progress
We're working with academic experts and industry scientists to help measure and reduce existing methane leakage rates, and educating industry and others about the importance of fixing leaks at all stops along the natural gas supply chain – from production well to burner tip.
Success
EDF is collaborating with industry and academic partners on five studies to measure methane leakage rates across natural gas operations. Also, our scientists developed a modeling tool to show how methane leaks affect climate change.
5. Empower communities
People have a right to know what chemicals are being used in their community, what is being emitted into the air, and what is in the wastewater being produced on site. They also have the right to exercise their traditional authorities over this intensive industrial activity.
Risks
If companies aren't required to name the chemicals they use, or monitor the air emissions they create, it's impossible for a community to assess risks. And if companies can proceed without input from communities, people may be overwhelmed by traffic and noise.
Progress
We're asking governments to require companies to name the chemicals they use, so communities can make informed decisions. And we're pushing to preserve the traditional rights of communities to make decisions about development within their borders.
Success
In 2011 and 2012, EDF won chemical disclosure regulations in Arkansas, Texas, Colorado, Montana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. In 2012, EDF and our allies supported a Pennsylvania court ruling that overturned a state law limiting local oversight of natural gas development—a huge win for community rights.
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