U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), a senior member of EPW, made the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) revisions on their miscalculated emissions estimates that come from natural gas production through hydraulic fracturing.
"Some of EPA's emissions data remains grossly flawed, leading EPA and anti-fossil fuel advocates to draw conclusions with no factual bearing," said Vitter. "Before EPA attempts to justify unnecessary regulation of hydraulic fracturing, the Agency needs to ensure that its decision-making process is based on sound science and credible data."
"The emissions revision is a welcomed development but it is further proof that EPA is bent on twisting rules and data to over-regulate the oil and gas industry without sufficient justification," said Inhofe. "States have been effectively regulating hydraulic fracturing for decades, despite EPA's attempts to demonize the industry. I urge EPA to ensure its rules and regulations are based on transparent, credible data so that it does not continue to place an unnecessary burden on job-creating industries."
EPA's newly revised emissions estimates are 20% lower than previous estimates, during the same time natural gas production has increased by nearly 40%, showing how states and the natural gas industry are ensuring responsible development of domestic resources. The announcement comes ahead of yet another delay of a controversial study on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources that has drawn criticism due to its design, biased pool of case studies, and overly broad scope.
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