WATER DATA TO ANSWER URGENT WATER POLICY QUESTIONS: SHALE GAS DEVELOPMENT IN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN

While the potential of shale gas development has been apparent for some time, it is only recently that horizontal-drilling technology and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing has allowed for the exploration and development of shale formations for natural gas and oil in the United States. Because hydraulic fracturing involves injection of high volumes of water and chemicals deep underground at high pressures, it has raised questions about potential contamination of surface water and groundwater and human and environmental health and safety implications.

This presentation will summarize the results of a case study authored by the Northeast-Midwest Institute and the U.S. Geological Survey evaluating available water data to answer “Do shale gas development activities contaminate surface water or groundwater?” in the Susquehanna River Basin. This presentation will describe the water data needed, available, and data gaps for answering this policy question. The findings from this study include the following observations:

 The water data needed to measure changes in surface water and groundwater quality that may be related to shale gas development are not currently available

• Modifications to existing surface water monitoring programs will be able to fill the data gaps for surface water monitoring
• Substantial new groundwater monitoring will be needed to fill the groundwater data gaps, and substantial participation from the shale industry is necessary to collect the needed data

This objective and science-based analysis will provide insight into the types of data the Northeast-Midwest region as a whole might need and describes the extent to which available data in the network of Federal, state, and local monitoring programs might be collectively used to support decision making. The project ultimately seeks innovative, feasible and science-based monitoring approaches that will support regional policy decisions and safeguard the region’s water resources into the future.