Environmental group seeks more natural gas rules

Proposals to increase environmental regulations were discussed Tuesday (Sept. 13) during a joint legislative committee, with a state official saying “adequate” regulations are in place to monitor natural gas production in Arkansas.

According to this report from Jason Tolbert with Talk Business, the “lively meeting” included testimony and protests from those who say more needs to be done to protect the environment. (The story from Tolbert also includes an 8-minute video of testimony at the hearing.)

Hydraulic fracturing and other drilling techniques have become a source of controversy in the Fayetteville Shale and other unconventional shale plays. Some central Arkansas landowners and environmentalist have complained that the water and fluids used in the fracturing process is a danger to groundwater and could contaminate underground sources of drinking water.

Others have claimed that the fracturing process and drilling of wells to depths of more than 10,000 feet is the major reason for the increased number of earthquakes in Arkansas. However, the Arkansas Geological Society has said it could not tie earthquakes to natural gas drilling, but would further investigate wastewater injection in the shale as a possibility.

Tuesday’s legislative discussion brought a large group of environmental activists as well as lobbyists for the various oil and gas producers. Around a dozen protesters wore shirts reading "Razorbacks for More Natural Gas Fracking Regulations" with various facts on the back.

"I believe the biggest problem with ADEQ regulations right now is the lack of inspections," said Sam Lane, representing Stop Arkansas Fracking. "We have already talked about how they have performed many more inspections this year due to the four new inspectors that were hired with Game and Fish Commission money. … I’ve been told the majority of those inspections are on Game and Fish property and very little extra inspections are taking place on private land."

Lane requested the state require inspection of all natural gas production wells.

Teresa Marks, director of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, said regs monitoring environmental impact are adequate.

"Right now, we think that we have adequate regulations in place. Now that doesn’t mean that something is not going to come to our attention later that we feel like needs to be covered by regulation and we would move forward with instituting those," Marks said.

Continuing, she noted: "But at this point, we are kind of waiting on EPA to finish their studies. They are looking at groundwater issues and they are also looking at air issues in relation to shale fracking in general. And we are going to see how those tests come out. And those reports may indicate that some additional regulations need to come forward so we will definitely be doing that should we need to.”

Arkansas recently began to require natural gas drillers to register chemicals used in the fracking process. The list is maintained by the Arkansas Oil & Gas Commission. Some environmental groups applauded the agency’s disclosure effort, but called for more transparency in the process by not allowing for exemptions for trade secrets. Other environmental leaders said the rule was an industry PR stunt.

During a May 11 “Talk Politics” interview, Gov. Mike Beebe rejected the notion that the state is ignoring environmental damage in an effort to capture the economic impact of increased well production.

Beebe said he sought and obtained a moratorium on injection wells related to earthquakes in central arkansas. And with regard to enforcement of environmental rules, Beebe said his administration has “beefed up” the number of inspectors. Money to pay the extra inspectors came from natural gas lease payments to the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. Beebe also said he is opposed to drilling under lakes and other important bodies of water.

“With a regard to a total moratorium on drilling, no I’m not for that,” Beebe said.

At least one natural gas production operating in the Fayetteville Shale Play has pushed a new fracking process. Oilfield services giant Schlumberger announced in January it is now using a new fracturing process in the Fayetteville Shale that will result in safer and cleaner drilling operations, decreased operating costs and reduced production time at rig sites.

At the time of the Schlumberger announcement, Lawrence Bengal, director of the Arkansas Oil & Gas Commission, said other companies operating in the Fayetteville Shale Play are working to develop a cleaner process.