In 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) began investigating claims of groundwater contamination in private drinking water wells in and around Pavillion, Wyoming. In a Draft Report issued in December of 2011, the EPA reported that samples taken from an aquifer near a Pavillion gas field contained chemicals associated with hydraulic fracturing fluids. Samples of community drinking water wells in 2010 and 2011 also indicated the presence of certain chemicals, generally at levels below applicable health and safety standards.

Wyoming oil and gas regulators and industry groups heavily criticized the draft report, contending that USEPA’s research and sampling methods were faulty and lacked transparency. In October 2012, USEPA issued a revised version of the report, which included the methodology and results from samples taken earlier in the year, and extended the public comment period through January 15, 2013.

Last Friday, January 11, 2013, USEPA issued a notice extending the public comment period on the revised report through September 30, 2013. USEPA will post additional technical information on the USEPA’s website, and the Agency will meet with key industry stakeholders during this period. A final version of the report is expected this fall.

Comments on the revised report may be submitted electronically here