Dakota Beacon

EPA Report stokes fears of crackdown in North Dakota

Yesterday afternoon, a story broke that caused further panic in the oil

Is the EPA targeting North Dakota's oil production?

industry in North Dakota.

From the Dickinson Press:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday for the first time that fracking - a controversial method of improving the productivity of oil and gas wells - may be to blame for causing groundwater pollution.

The draft finding could have significant implications while states try to determine how to regulate the process. Environmentalists characterized the report as a significant development though it met immediate criticism from the oil and gas industry and a U.S. senator.

This story does not do anything to confirm the EPA's assurances to

It does, however, confirm Congressman Berg's distrust of the agency.

Obviously, as we've been saying for the past two weeks - until Congress passes a bill to rein in the EPA, and the President signs it, the issue simply is not a done deal.

According to Forbes.com this report from the EPA is not really a solid scientific report:

 Maybe hydraulic fracking of gas wells contributed to groundwater pollution, but then again, maybe it didn't. Even the EPA says its findings need to be reviewed and reconsidered, and you better believe every company that drills or fracks any wells anywhere across America has a couple petroleum engineers peering through the EPA report looking for stumbling blocks and raising questions.

So, it seems the EPA is releasing unreviewed and unconfirmed data in a 121 page report.  How can that sort of sensationalized approach cause anything but fear and distrust?

Senator James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works, of this latest report he said:

"EPA's conclusions are not based on sound science but rather on political

science.  Its findings are premature, given that the Agency has not gone through the necessary peer-review process, and there are still serious outstanding questions regarding EPA's data and methodology."

"This announcement is part of President Obama's war on fossil fuels and his determination to shut down natural gas production.   Unfortunately for Americans, his agenda destroys good paying jobs in one of the few industries that is thriving, and increases our dependence on foreign oil." 

This is why NDTA is launching an effort to Fight The EPA.  

We've set up a page on our website featuring two video ads, as well as how you can help to convince Senator John Hoeven that it's really not a good idea to trust the empty promises of the EPA.

The EPA is going to continue to act politically, despite what they told Senator Hoeven.  As we pointed out early on, North Dakota's out-of-control state budget growth simply cannot withstand a crackdown on oil production.  With the growth in state spending over the last decade, we simply cannot allow for these revenues to disappear because of an over-zealous federal agency.

Take action now to - Fight The EPA!