EPA Report That Lowers Methane-Leak Estimates Further Divides Fracking Camps 127
gmfeier writes "The EPA has significantly lowered its estimate of how much methane leaks during natural gas production. This has major implications for the fracking debate, but puts the EPA at odds with NOAA. From the article: 'The scope of the EPA's revision was vast. In a mid-April report on greenhouse emissions, the agency now says that tighter pollution controls instituted by the industry resulted in an average annual decrease of 41.6 million metric tons of methane emissions from 1990 through 2010, or more than 850 million metric tons overall. That's about a 20 percent reduction from previous estimates. The agency converts the methane emissions into their equivalent in carbon dioxide, following standard scientific practice.'"
Industry says don't worry (Score:4, Insightful)
From the AP article:
"The EPA said it made the changes based on expert reviews and new data from several sources, including a report funded by the oil and gas industry. But the estimates aren't based on independent field tests of actual emissions, and some scientists said that's a problem."
So... the industry produced a report which claimed it has really cleaned up its act... and we should believe them?
Re:Industry says don't worry (Score:4, Insightful)
Note the "several sources" and "a report funded by the oil and gas industry".
So, no, it's not just an industry report behind this. It might be *gasp* actual science.
Less methane? So fracking what? (Score:5, Insightful)
So there's less methane being released. OK, that's good and all--but it still doesn't address the several other really important problems with fracking.
Like the fact that the toxic chemicals they use to force apart the shale layers are a) basically unknown, b) often left down there, and c) known to be contaminating groundwater in some instances. Or the fact that the gas companies come in, tear up the countryside, create an ecological disaster, make vast amounts of money, and then, when they decide it's no longer worth their time--they just pack up and leave. And the local communities get to deal with the mess for the next 100 years or so.
The basic problem is that there's insufficient regulation here. Preventing companies from exploiting natural resources for tremendous profit while leaving behind a horrific environmental mess--and, in general, preventing privatized profits with socialized costs--is precisely what regulation is best for. The market not only will not deal with these issues, it cannot. It has no way of taking account of the externalities associated with hydrofracking.
Put in place some good common-sense regulation of hydrofracking, with enough teeth to make it actually mean something, and then we can talk about allowing it to happen within 100 miles of my house.
And yes, I live in the northernmost extension of the Marcellus shale in upstate NY, so this issue does affect me personally.
Dan Aris
Re:Industry says don't worry (Score:4, Insightful)
No, not science... just speculation. They specifically said that they didn't measure actual field emissions (that's the science part).
The EPA didn't. They took somebody's word that they did the measurements and accepted the results on face value. Considering the main thrust of this is from an industry-backed report, I find it very suspicious.
Re:What 2 camps? (Score:5, Insightful)
Why does everyone assume that renewable energy is an all or nothing thing. Think about when the Wright brothers first flew, you'd have people out there saying things like:
"Yes, let's just transport thousands of people around the world daily on your little flying contraption!" /sarcasm
The *goal* is to make a system that doesn't rely on depletable resources, especially with a population that is continually expanding... you have to start somewhere.
Re:Less methane? So fracking what? (Score:3, Insightful)
Oh no, not chemicals! The vast, vast majority of what is pumped is water.
Are you that fucking stupid??? Yes, there's only about 0.5% chemical additives, yes the "vast majority" is water (if you exclude the propants, which are pretty benign). But some of the chemicals are highly toxic, and there's millions of gallons used per fracturing, so you're talking about thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals being pumped into the ground every time.
Widespread contamination has not been demonstrated, but there is as-yet unquantified risk--and examples of contamination.
So to say "it's just water" is either gross ignorance, or lying. Maybe I should visit you and offer you a drink, with the assurance that you'll be fine because it's 99.5% water ;-)
Re:Industry says don't worry (Score:1, Insightful)
You accept AGW based on nothing but scientific wild ass guesses in a computer model, why not this?