Abstract |
This guidance provides technical recommendations for protecting underground sources of drinking water (USDWs) from potential endangerment posed by hydraulic fracturing (HF) activities where diesel fuels are used. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed this guidance for EPA permit writers to ensure protection of USDWs in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and Underground Injection Control (UIC) regulatory authority. This authority is limited to when diesel fuels are used in fluids or propping agents pursuant to oil, gas and geothermal activities. This document does not establish any new permitting requirements for HF activities using diesel fuels, but describes the EPAs interpretation of existing legal requirements as well as non-binding recommendations for EPA permit writers to consider in applying UIC Class II1 regulations to HF when diesel fuels are used in fracturing fluids or propping agents. This document does not address geothermal activities. |