EPA Announces Study on Hydraulic Fracturing Practices Used in Gas and Oil Production

On March 18, 2010, United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued a Federal Register notice announcing a meeting of the Science Advisory Board on April 7-8, 2010.1 The Science Advisory Board will be “commenting on EPA’s proposed approach to study the potential public health and environmental protection issues that may be associated with hydraulic fracturing.” That same day, EPA also announced that it will conduct a $1.8M study of the impacts on water quality and public health associated with hydraulic fracturing.