Fracking and drinking water

The EPA has chosen seven sites to investigate the relationship between fracking (for natural gas) and drinking water:

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, involves freeing of natural gas trapped in shale rock by injecting copious amounts of water at very high pressure. It has become increasingly controversial as companies have turned to drilling horizontally at significant depths. Communities fear that this form of drilling may cause serious environmental damage, particularly if the chemicals enter the drinking water supply. Yet companies, arguing that natural gas is a cleaner energy source than coal, are eager to tap these bountiful underground reserves.

I’m pleased to see that the is study underway and I’m surprised to see that it was ordered by Congress. There are many in Congress who want to dismantle the EPA and let industry regulate itself.