Recent EPA findings, studies, and lawsuits are raising awareness of potential harmful water contamination that may result from Hydraulic Fracturing or Fracking. The environmental lawyers at Gilman Law LLP are offering free consultations to individuals that feel they have well water contaminants, water contamination, or other injuries as a result of Hydraulic Fracturing or Fracking.
Boston, MA, April 2012 : Gilman Law LLP is now evaluating water contamination lawsuits on behalf of individuals who believe hydraulic fracturing (fracking) activities have created private well water contamination, caused property damage or otherwise put their health at risk. Recently, a lawsuit was filed in Ohio federal court (No.: 12-736) alleging damages for water contamination and allegedly fraudulent business activities related to the purchase and sale of the oil, gas, and mineral lease used to commence the hydraulic fracturing (fracking). In December 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that contamination of an aquifer in the community of Pavillion, Wyoming, was likely associated with natural gas drilling activities, including fracking, marking the first time the agency had ever linked hydraulic fracturing to groundwater contamination.*
Fracking is a drilling process in which natural gas and oil are extracted from deep underground by injecting large amounts of water and toxic chemicals (cocktails known as fracking fluids) through a wellbore to break up shale rock formations and allow the natural gas to escape. Recent advancements in fracking have opened large regions in the U.S. to oil and gas developments, including the Marcellus Shale of Pennsylvania and southern New York, the Barnett Shale of North Texas, and elsewhere.**
According to the environmental group Earthworks, the EPA does not regulate the injection of fracturing fluids under the Safe Drinking Water Act. As a result, fracking regulation is mostly left up to the states, which often do not require drillers to provide detailed information on types and quantities of chemicals being used in their fracking, and whether the amount injected underground returns to the surface or remains underground.***
In April 2011, Democratic members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce released a report detailing the range of chemicals used in fracking. According to the report, the most widely used chemical in fracking fluids, methanol, is a hazardous air pollutant and is on the candidate list for potential regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Isopropyl alcohol, 2-butoxyethanol, and ethylene glycol were the other most widely used chemicals. The study noted that in some cases benzene (a known carcinogen), toluene, xylene, and ethylbenzene are used.****
How To Receive Compensation From Fracking Water Contamination
Gilman Law LLP is currently evaluating water contamination lawsuits on behalf of anyone who believes their property or health has been damaged by hydraulic fracturing. More information regarding the association between hydraulic fracturing and water contamination, as well as free fracking water contamination lawsuit evaluations are available by visiting our Fracking Water Contamination Website, or by calling Toll Free at 1-888-252-0048.
About Gilman Law LLP
Gilman Law LLP, a leading national law firm with offices in Florida and Massachusetts, has been recognized for delivering successful results to their clients across a broad range of claims stemming from consumer product injury, mass tort, and class action lawsuits. For over 33 years, the Gilman Law LLP team of highly experienced environmental lawyers has earned renown for tireless work on behalf of their clients on many of today’s most challenging and important legal issues.
- bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-08/gas-fracking-chemicals-detected-in-wyoming-aquifer-epa-says.html
** netl.doe.gov/technologies/oil-gas/publications/epreports/shale_gas_primer_2009.pdf
*** earthworksaction.org/halliburton.cfm
*** democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?q=news/committee-democrats-release-new-report-detailing-hydraulic-fracturing-products
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