CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — It appears more testing will be done in a Wyoming gas field where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency theorizes a link between hydraulic fracturing and groundwater pollution.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead exchanged letters over the last month indicating that more testing of groundwater will be done.
The EPA has found suspect chemicals in two wells it drilled to test groundwater in a gas field outside the community of Pavillion. Agency scientists speculated in a draft report that gas development, including fracking, may have been to blame for the contamination.
Fracking entails pumping water, sand and chemicals underground to open fissures to improve the flow of oil or gas.
The EPA report has been criticized by the state and oil and gas concerns.