Shale Play Hydraulic Fracturing: Water
Quality and Supply Issues
Texas Rural Water Association
Technical Conference
July 14, 2011
Galveston, Texas
Leonard H. Dougal
Jackson Walker L.L.P.
ldougal@jw.com • (512) 236-2000
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Range Resources
EPA Emergency Order
•EPA Emergency Unilateral Order –Dec. 7, 2010; Parker
County (Barnett Shale); Effective Immediately -- Issued
w/o Hearing
•“Concerns with water quality, indoor air quality, and potential
explosivity.”
•“The contaminants identified…may present an imminent and
substantial endangerment to the health of persons . . . are potentially
explosive or flammable, and benzene if ingested or inhaled could
cause cancer . . .”
•“EPA has determined that appropriate state and local authorities
have not taken sufficient action to address the endangerment…and
do not intend to take such action at this time….”
Source: In the Matter of Range Resources Corporation and Range Production Company,
Environmental Protection Agency, Emergency Administrative Order, SDWA-06-2011-1208.
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