DENVER – Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, once again hit the spotlight in Colorado on Thursday, with a report suggesting air-quality regulations are not keeping up with the industry’s rapid growth.
The report, by researchers at the University of Colorado, follows a study released Wednesday that found chemicals used in fracking fluids are no more harmful than those found in common household cleaners. That report was also conducted by researchers at CU.
Both reports came as Boulder County on Thursday extended a moratorium on gas and oil development. The continued suspension of activities again highlights the tension between local governments and the industry.
The report concerning emissions was released by Chelsea Thompson, a researcher with the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at CU in Boulder. The study is expected to be published today by Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, which focuses on scientific solutions to human impact.
The report focused on emissions near gas and oil sites in the northern Front Range, which has seen expanded fracking, such as near Erie and Longmont. It took into account emissions regulations implemented in 2008 in Colorado that aim to capture 90 percent of energy development-caused emissions.
The report does not factor in first-of-its-kind methane regulations passed by state regulators earlier this year, as it would be too soon to analyze that data.
In some cases, the emissions in close proximity to wells were more than 77 times above levels away from those sites, such as near metro Denver, according to the emissions report. A focus was placed on non-methane hydrocarbons, such as benzene, a known carcinogen. Benzene is also known as a volatile organic compound, or VOC.
The highest levels were found within the Greater Wattenberg Gas Field, which runs from Northglenn to Eaton.
The issue is familiar to Southwest Colorado, where one small so-called “hot spot” near the Four Corners is responsible for producing the largest concentration of methane, according to a report released by NASA scientists in October.
Thompson said it is not for lack of trying on the state’s part. She said it is simply difficult to keep up with the rapid expansion of the industry. Drilling permits have tripled over eight years in the part of the state examined.
“With the rapid expansion of drilling here, and as we continue to do it, chances are that the total VOCs will probably still be increasing, which will not be helping our ozone problem here,” Thompson said.
State air-quality officials, however, say they are making progress. Will Allison, director of the Air Pollution Control Division, said benzene concentrations were measured at 4 parts per billion in 2003, and about 0.6 parts per billion in 2014.
“Certainly, it is an ongoing challenge, and in light of the continued growth of the industry, we’ve made numerous updates to our regulations through the years to ensure they are the most up-to-date, stringent regulations on the books,” Allison said, pointing to six different rulemakings over the past decade.
The methane rules passed earlier this year aim to capture 95 percent of emissions through new detection technology and tougher standards for repairing leaks.
Meanwhile, a separate report released by CU researchers found that fracking fluids are no more toxic than common household substances. The study was published in the journal Analytical Chemistry.
Fracking has long been used in wells by mixing chemicals, sand and water to create small fractures under the ground to stimulate production of new and existing gas and oil wells.
“We found chemicals in the samples we were running that most of us are putting down our drains at home,” said Michael Thurman, lead author of the paper.
But Boulder County remains concerned. Commissioners voted Thursday morning to extend the county’s moratorium on new development for another 3½ years. The decision brought cheers from the anti-fracking community.
Lisa Trope, Colorado organizer for Food and Water Watch, said, “It is evident based on both the newest research and on the stories of people personally affected by fracking near their homes that the threats posed by this extreme gas and oil extraction method are not worth the risks.”
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
Fracking Emissions Study (PDF)
On the Net
To view study on fracking fluids, visit http://tinyurl.com/lp9q9p7
