NorthCarolinaOilandGasStudy April2012

79

Actualwateruseforgaswelldevelopmentmaybedifferentthantheamountsanalyzedhere.If
lawsareadoptedtominimizeimpactsatthisprojectedlevelofwaterusage,thenactualwater
usemaybelessthantheestimatespresentedhere.
Conclusionsrelatedtowatersupply
Withwisemanagement,adequatewatersupplieswouldlikelybeavailabletosupportshalegas
extractioninthevicinityoftheTriassicBasinsinNorthCarolina.However,thereisnoclear,
existingregulatorypathorframeworkthatgivesanystateagencytheabilitytoensurethat
groundwaterorsurfacewaterwithdrawalsfornaturalgasdevelopmentareappropriately
managedtoavoidstreamimpactsandconflictswithotherwaterusers.
Availableinformationindicatesthatdrillingandhydraulicfracturingofnaturalgaswells
typicallyusesfromthreetofivemilliongallonsofwaterperwell.Accordingtoafactsheetby
ChesapeakeEnergyentitledWaterUseinDeepShaleGasExploration,datedMay2011,the
companyusesavarietyofwatersourcesdependingonavailability.
53
Toquotethefactsheet,
Thiswateristypicallytransportedviatemporarypipelinesortruckedtodrillinglocationsfor
storagepriortouseintanksorimpoundments.
Ifthenecessaryvolumesofwatercanbeaccumulatedoveranextendedperiodoftimerather
thanonlyonthedayswhenhydraulicfracturingactuallyoccurs,thenneedscouldbemetby
smallerwithdrawals.Thatflexibilitywouldmakeitpossibletodrawfromalargersetof
potentialwatersources.Overallwithdrawaltimescouldbereducedforsourcescapableof
supportinglargerwithdrawals,becauseofstreamsizeorseasonallyhigherflows.Itisnot
possibletodevelopamorespecificcharacterizationofwaterneedsandavailablesourcesprior
totheinitiationofshalegasdevelopmentoperationsandtheresultingdeterminationofthe
sitespecificneedsintheTriassicBasinsofNorthCarolina.However,mostoftheareaswhere
naturalgasexplorationisexpectedtooccurdoappeartopossessthecapabilitytosupport
additionalsurfacewaterwithdrawalsandcontinuetosupporttheneedsofthelocal
population.
SomepublicwatersystemsinthevicinityoftheTriassicBasinsmayhaveunusedcapacitythat
couldsupplywaterforshalegasexplorationandproduction.Thesewatersourceshavealready
beenevaluatedfortheirpotentialenvironmentalimpactsattheirmaximumwithdrawallevels.
Therefore,thetimeandexpenseofevaluatingpotentialimpactsofnewwithdrawalscouldbe
avoided.Increasedwatersaleswouldbeaboosttoutilityrevenuesandtheirabilitytocover
thecostsofexistingdebt.Therelativelyshorttermnatureofgaswelldrillinganddevelopment
wouldallowtheoptionfortimelimitedcommitmentsonthepartoftheutilitiestotake
advantageofcurrentlyunusedcapacity,whileatthesametimekeepingthatcapacityavailable
inthefuturetoprovidewatertoagrowingcustomerbase.Detailsonthevolumeofwater
madeavailableanddurationofthecommitmentwouldbesubjecttonegotiationbetweenthe
parties.

53
ChesapeakeEnergy.WaterUseinDeepShaleGasExploration.2011.RetrievedJanuary9,2012from
http://www.naturalgaswaterusage.com/Pages/information.aspx.

NorthCarolinaOilandGasStudy April2012
80

Manylocalgovernmentandlargecommunitywatersystemsacrossthestatehaveseentheir
percapitademandforwaterdeclinebecauseoftheircustomersexperiencesduringrecent
droughts.Formanysystems,dailywaterusehasnotreturnedtothelevelsseenpriorto
droughtresponseactivitiesoverthelastdecade.Thisphenomenon,combinedwiththe
downturnineconomicexpansionandtheexodusofmanufacturingfacilities,hasputsome
waterutilitiesinthepositionofmakingpaymentsondebtsforunusedsystemcapacity.In
addition,reducedpercapitademandhasresultedinreducedrevenuestocoverdebtpayments.
Accordingtodatainthe2010localwatersupplyplans,Sanford,Eden,Mayodan,Madison,
AnsonCountyandMontgomeryCountywatersystemsdonotcurrentlyuseallthewater
availabletothem.Localplandataindicatethat,basedonwatertreatmentplantcapacities,the
surfacewatersystemsintheDanRiverhydrologicsubbasincouldhaveabout17milliongallons
perdayavailableonanaveragedaybasis.IntheWadesborogeologicsubbasin,Montgomery
Countycouldhaveaboutthreemilliongallonsperdayavailableonaverage,andintheSanford
geologicsubbasinthecityofSanfordcouldhaveaboutsixmilliongallonsperdayavailableon
averageforthenextfewyears.Severalofthesesystemsdonotindicateintheirlocalwater
supplyplansneedingthetotalvolumeoftheiravailablesuppliesbefore2060.Ofcourse,the
abilitytomakeuseofthiswaterdependsontheabilityofthepartiestocometoamutually
acceptableagreement.
DENRsuggeststhatthegasindustryandpublicwaterutilitiesworktogethertomeetwater
needsforgasexplorationandencouragestheinvestigationofoptionsthattakeadvantageof
unusedcapacityatexistingwithdrawalfacilities.
Basedontheexperienceinotheroilandgasproducingstates,DENRrecommendsthatgas
drillersberequiredtohaveanapprovedwatermanagementplanthatidentifiesthelocationof
watersourcestobeused,thevolumeofwatertobewithdrawnandthepaceofwithdrawal.
Newsurfacewaterwithdrawalsforgaswellsbelimitedsuchthatthecumulativeinstantaneous
withdrawalsinthevicinityoftheintakedonotexceed20percentofthe7Q10flowcalculated
atthetimeofthewithdrawalrequest.Instantaneouswithdrawalsgreaterthan20percentof
the7Q10shouldrequiresitespecificevaluationsofpotentialimpacts.Thisthresholdhasbeen
usedformanyyearstodifferentiateactivitieshavingaminimumpotentialforenvironmental
effectsandhasbeenshowntobeprotectiveofotherexistingwaterusersandtheenvironment.
Thisapproachhasseveralinherentadvantages:itwouldprotectsmallwatershedswithlow
7Q10flowsandtheexistingwaterusers;itwouldpreventexcessivewithdrawalsduringperiods
ofpeakusage,itwouldbeconsistentwithexistingstateprotocols;anditwouldpreventany
surfacewaterinNorthCarolinafromdryingupduetonaturalgaswithdrawals.Asafurther
precautiontoprotectwaterresources,gaswellwithdrawalsshouldbeprohibitedduring
droughtsandlowflowconditions.
Muchofthisanalysisfocusedonsurfacewaterresourcesbecauseofthehistoricallylowyields
availablefromwellsdrilledintheTriassicBasins.Higheryieldshavebeenproducedfromsome
wellsdrilledintheseareas,buttheabilitytoestimateyieldspriortoinvestingindrillingawater
supplywellislimitedbythehighlyvariablenatureofthefracturenetworksthatmayormaynot
beintersectedbyawellbore.Table318providesyieldinformationforthepublicwatersupply
wellslocatedintheTriassicBasins.Groundwaterisavailablefromawellbecauseitcanmove
NorthCarolinaOilandGasStudy April2012
99

Section 4 - Potential enviionmental anu

health impacts
A. Constituentsandcontaminantsassociatedwithhydraulic
fracturing
Theuseofchemicalsinhydraulicfracturing
Thehydraulicfracturingofanaturalgaswellinvolvesinjectingamixtureofproppantandfluids
intothewellboreathighpressure,creatingfracturesintherock.Theproppant,whichisoften
sand,holdsthefracturesopen.Thesefracturesbecomepathwaysfornaturalgastoflow
towardsthewellbore,increasingtherateatwhichnaturalgascanbeextracted.Hydraulic
fracturingcreatespermeabilitywithintheshaleformation,allowingthewelltoproducea
significantamountofnaturalgas.
Differenttypesofhydraulicfracturingfluidscanbeused,butthetwomostcommonare
slickwaterfracturingandnitrogenfoamfracturing.Slickwaterfracturing(namedforitsabilityto
reducefriction,thusreducingthepressureneededtopumpthefluidintothewellbore),isthe
mostcommonlyusedmethod;slickwaterfracturingfluidsareprimarilycomposedofwater.
Nitrogenfoamfracturingusesnitrogengasandlesswaterthanslickwaterfracturing.Since
slickwaterfracturingisthemorecommonlyusedmethod,itisassumedforthepurposesofthis
reportthatslickwaterfracturingwouldbeusedinthedevelopmentofshalegasinNorth
Carolina.
Slickwaterfracturingfluidstypicallyconsistof98to99.5percentwaterandsand.TheNewYork
StateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation(NYSDEC)studiedthecompositionsbyweight
ofasampleoffracturingfluidusedintheFayettevilleShaleandasampleoffluidusedinthe
MarcellusShale.NYSDECfoundthatbetweenapproximately8490percentofthefracturing
fluidiswater,andbetween815percentissand.
105

Inadditiontowaterandsand(orotherproppants),operatorsuseanumberofchemical
additivesaretoconditionthewater.Additivesmaybeusedtothickenorthinthefluid,prevent
corrosionofthewellcasing,killbacteriaorforotherpurposes.Themixtureofconstituents
usedinhydraulicfracturingfluidforaparticulardrillingoperationvariesdependingonthe
drillingcompany,specificcharacteristicsofthegeologicbasin(suchasdepth,temperature,
thermalmaturityandstructuralcharacteristics),andthewelloperatorsobjectives.
106

Giventheinherentvariabilityinthecompositionofhydraulicfracturingfluids,wecannotknow
theexactcompositionofhydraulicfracturingfluidsthatcouldbeusedinNorthCarolina.

105
NewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation(NYSDEC).RevisedDraftSupplementalGeneric
EnvironmentalImpactStatementontheOil,GasandSolutionMiningRegulatoryProgram,p.551.Completed
September7,2011.RetrievedSeptember7,2011fromhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/75370.html.
106
NYSDEC,p.539.
NorthCarolinaOilandGasStudy April2012
100

Anygivenhydraulicfracturingmixturetypicallycontainsbetweensixand12chemicaladditives.
Althoughalimitednumberofadditiveswouldbeusedataparticulardrillingsite,hundredsof
differentchemicaladditivesmaybeinuseacrossthecountry.In2011,theCommitteeon
EnergyandCommerceoftheUnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativescompletedastudyon
chemicalsusedinhydraulicfracturingoperations.TheCommitteeasked14leadingoilandgas
servicecompaniestodisclosethetypesandvolumesofhydraulicfracturingproductsusedin
hydraulicfracturingfluidsbetween2005and2009.
107
TheCommitteefoundthatduringthat
timeperiod,the14oilandgasservicecompaniesusedmorethan2,500hydraulicfracturing
productscontaining750chemicalsandothercomponents.Thistotaled780milliongallonsof
additives,notincludingthewaterthatisaddedtohydraulicfracturingfluidsatthewellsite
beforeinjection.
NYSDECcollectedinformationonadditivesproposedforuseinfracturinginNewYorkfrom15
chemicalsuppliersandsixservicecompanies.
108
Thisinformationincludedmaterialsafetydata
sheetsandproductcompositiondisclosuresconsistingofchemicalconstituentnamesand
theirassociatedChemicalAbstractService(CAS)Numbers,aswellaschemicalconstituent
percentbyweightinformation.NYSDECobtainedinformationfor235products,which
included322uniquechemicalswithCASnumbersandatleastanother21compoundsthathave
nodisclosedCASnumberbecausetheyaremixtures.ThelistofchemicalconstituentsandCAS
numbersthatNYSDECextractedfromtheproductcompositiondisclosuresandMSDSs
submittedtoNYSDECbeginsonpage555ofNYSDECsRevisedDraftSupplementalGeneric
EnvironmentalImpactStatementontheOil,GasandSolutionMiningRegulatoryProgram.
TheGroundwaterProtectionCouncilandtheInterstateOilandGasCompactCommission
maintainaregistryfordisclosureofchemicalsusedinhydraulicfracturing.Theregistry,
FracFocus,notesthattherearealimitednumber[ofchemicals]whichareroutinelyusedin
hydraulicfracturing.TheFracFocuswebsitelists59chemicalsthatareusedthemostoften.
Classesofchemicalsused
Asnotedabove,anoperatorwouldonlyuseasmallnumberofadditives(typicallysixto12)on
anysinglewell.Thechemicaladditivesfallintocertaincategoriesandonlyoneproductfrom
eachcategoryisusedinanygivenhydraulicfracturingfluid.Inaddition,itwouldnotbe
necessarytouseachemicalfromeverycategoryateverywellsite.
109
Thefollowingtableshows
thecategories,purposesandexamplesofadditivesreportedtoNYSDECasproposedforusein
hydraulicfracturingwellsinNewYorkState.Thecategorieslistedaresimilartoadditivesshown
onFracFocus(www.fracfocus.org).Theexceptionwouldbeofsolvents,acategorythatdoes
notappearontheFracFocuslist.ThecategorieslistedinTable41arealsosimilartoadditives

107
UnitedStates.Cong.House.CommitteeonEnergyandCommerce.ChemicalsUsedinHydraulicFracturing.
April2011.RetrievedJanuary5,2012from
http://democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Hydraulic%20Fracturing%20Report%
204.18.11.pdf.
108
NYSDEC,pp.540541.
109
NYSDEC,pp.549551.
NorthCarolinaOilandGasStudy April2012
101

listedintheDepartmentofEnergysModernShaleGasDevelopmentintheUnitedStates:A
Primer.
Table41.CategoriesandPurposesofAdditivesProposedforUseinNewYorkState
110

TheCommitteeonEnergyandCommerceoftheU.S.HouseofRepresentativesfoundthatthe
mostwidelyusedchemicalinhydraulicfracturingwasmethanol,ahazardousairpollutantthat
isonEPAslistofcontaminantsthatarecurrentlynotsubjecttoanyproposedorpromulgated

110
ThistableisbasedonthetableinNYSDEC,p.550andonatableonpage63oftheDepartmentofEnergys
ModernShaleGasDevelopmentintheUnitedStates:APrimer(writtenbytheGroundWaterProtectionCouncil
andpublishedinApril2009)andfromatableathttp://fracfocus.org/chemicaluse/whatchemicalsareused.
Additive Type Description of Purpose Examples of Chemicals
Acids
Removes cement and drilling mud from casing perforations
prior to injecting other fracturing fluids, providing an
accessible path to the shale formation
Hydrochloric acid (HCI, 3% to
28%) or muriatic acid
Bactericide/Biocide/
Antibacterial Agent
Inhibits growth of organisms that could produce gases
(particularly hydrogen sulfide) that could contaminate
methane gas. Also prevents the growth of bacteria which
can reduce the ability of the fluid to carry proppant into the
fractures.
Gluteraldehyde; 2,2-dibromo-3-
nitrilopropionamide
Breaker
Reduces the viscosity of the fluid in order to release
proppant into fractures and enhance the recovery of the
fracturing fluid
Peroxydisulfates
Buffer/pH Adjusting
Agent
Adjusts and controls the pH of the fluid in order to
maximize the effectiveness of other additives such as
crosslinkers
Sodium or potassium
carbonate; acetic acid
Clay
stabilizers/Control/K
CI
Prevents clays from swelling or shifting, which block pore
spaces, reducing permeability
Salts such as potassium
chloride (KCI) or tetramethyl
ammonium chloride
Corrosion inhibitors
(including Oxygen
Scavengers)
Reduces rust formation on steel tubing, well casings, tools,
and tanks (used only in fracturing fluids that contain acid).
Methanol; ammonium bisulfate
for oxygen scavengers
Crosslinker
Increases fluid viscosity using phosphate esters combined
with metals. The metals are referred to as crosslinking
agents. The increased fracturing fluid viscosity allows the
fluid to carry more proppant into the fractures.
Potassium hydroxide; borate
salts
Friction reducers
Allows fracture fluids to be injected at optimum rates and
pressures by minimizing friction.
Sodium acrylate-acrylamide
copolymer; polyacrylamde
(PAM); petroleum distillates
Gelling agents
Increases fracturing fluid viscosity, allowing the fluid to
carry more proppant
Guar gum; petroleum
distillates
Iron control
Prevents the precipitation of metal oxides which could plug
off the formation.
Citric acid
Proppants
Hold open the fractures to allow gas to flow more freely to
the well bore
Sand, sintered bauxite,
zirconium oxide, ceramic beads
Scale inhibitors
Prevents the precipitation of carbonates and sulfates
(calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate) which
could plug off the formation.
Ammonium chloride; ethylene
glycol
Solvent
Additive which is soluble in oil, water and acid-based
treatment fluids which is used to control the wettability of
contact surfaces or to prevent or break emulsions.
Various aromatic hydrocarbons
Surfactants
Reduces fracturing fluid surface tension, which aids in fluid
recovery
Methanol; isopropanol;
ethoxylated alcohol
NorthCarolinaOilandGasStudy April2012
102

nationalprimarydrinkingwaterregulations,thatareknownoranticipatedtooccurinpublic
watersystems,andwhichmayrequireregulationundertheSafeDrinkingWaterAct(SDWA).
Methanolwasusedin342hydraulicfracturingproducts.Otherchemicalsthatwerethemost
widelyusedwereisopropylalcohol,ethyleneglycolandcrystallinesilica.
Anothercommonlyusedchemicalis2butoxyethanol(2BE),whichisusedbyhydraulic
fracturingcompaniesasasurfactant.TheCommitteewrites,AccordingtoEPAscientists,2BE
iseasilyabsorbedandrapidlydistributedinhumansfollowinginhalation,ingestion,ordermal
exposure.Studieshaveshownthatexposureto2BEcancausehemolysis(destructionofred
bloodcells)anddamagetothespleen,liver,andbonemarrow.
111

Aquatictoxicityknowledgeforcertainchemicalsusedinhydraulicfracturingmaybelimited.
Expectedorpredictedeffectstotheaquaticcommunity,onalongtermorshorttermbasis,
maybeunknown.
Useofproprietarychemicals
Knowledgeofthechemicalsusedinhydraulicfracturingremainsimperfect.Manycompanies
failedtoprovidetheCommitteeonEnergyandCommercewithacompletechemicalmakeup
fortheirhydraulicfracturingfluids.TheCommitteefoundthatBetween2005and2009,the
companiesused94milliongallonsof279productsthatcontainedatleastonechemicalor
componentthatthemanufacturersdeemedproprietaryoratradesecret.
112
Insomecases,oil
andgascompaniespurchasedtheseproductsofftheshelffromchemicalsuppliers,andsimply
didnotknowwhatchemicalstheywereusing.Intheeventofaspill,lackofknowledgeabout
thechemicalmakeupcouldposechallengesforemergencyresponders.Withoutestablished
groundwaterandsurfacewaterstandards,potentialtoxiceffectstobothhumanhealthand
aquaticlifemaybeunknown.
Healthinformationrelatedtohydraulicfracturingfluids
Fracturingfluidscanposebothpublichealthandenvironmentalconcerns;exposureto
hydraulicfracturingadditivesshouldoccur,however,onlyinthecaseofanaccident,spillor
othernonroutineincident.Exposurecouldoccureitherwhiletransportingadditivestothewell
pad,duringwellpadoperationsorwhiletransportingwastewater.Afterchemicalshavebeen
injectedforhydraulicfracturing,acertainamountofthefluidreturnstothesurfaceas
flowback.Thiswastewaterisstoredinpitsortanksatthesurface;absentsufficient
safeguards,thiswastewatercanspilloroverflowfollowingheavyrainfall.Ifthesechemicalsare
notproperlydisposedoforifanaccidentoccursinwhichfluidsspillontothegroundorinto
surfacewaters,thefracturingfluidcouldposethreatstohumanhealth,theenvironmentandto
thehealthoflivestockorwildlife.Intheeventofimpropercementingofwellcasings,these
chemicalscouldcontaminatedrinkingwatersupplies.Ifaspillorotherreleaseoccurred,more

111
UnitedStates.Cong.House.CommitteeonEnergyandCommerce.ChemicalsUsedinHydraulicFracturing.
April2011.RetrievedJanuary5,2012from
http://democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Hydraulic%20Fracturing%20Report%
204.18.11.pdf,p.7.
112
Ibid,p.2.
NorthCarolinaOilandGasStudy April2012
103

specificinformationaboutthechemicalsinvolvedwouldberequiredinordertoassessthe
publichealthandenvironmentalimpacts.
TheNewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation(NYSDEC)requestedassistance
fromtheNewYorkStateDepartmentofHealth(NYSDOH)inidentifyingpotentialexposure
pathwaysandconstituentsofconcernassociatedwithhydraulicfracturing.NYSDOHassessed
thehealthconcernsbyexaminingchemicalsgroupedintocategoriesaccordingtotheir
chemicalstructure(orfunctioninthecaseofmicrobiocides).Basedonthisassessment,NYSDEC
concludes,
Chemicalsinproductsproposedforuseinhighvolumehydraulicfracturing
includesomethat,basedmainlyonoccupationalstudiesorhighlevelexposures
inlaboratoryanimals,havebeenshowntocauseeffectssuchascarcinogenicity,
mutagenicity,reproductivetoxicity,neurotoxicityororgandamage.This
informationonlyindicatesthetypesoftoxiceffectsthesechemicalscancause
undercertaincircumstancesbutdoesnotmeanthatuseofthesechemicals
wouldcauseexposureineverycaseorthatexposurewouldcausethoseeffects
ineverycase.Whetherornotpeopleactuallyexperienceatoxiceffectfroma
chemicaldependsonwhetherornottheyexperienceanyexposuretothe
chemicalalongwithmanyotherfactorsincluding,amongothers,theamount,
timing,durationandrouteofexposureandindividualcharacteristicsthatcan
contributetodifferencesinsusceptibility.
113

Someofthechemicalsusedinhydraulicfracturingfluidsarerelativelyharmless,suchassalt
andcitricacid.Othersareknownorpossiblehumancarcinogens.Theoilandgasservice
companiesthatreportedtotheCommitteeonEnergyandCommerceused652different
productscontaining29chemicalsthatare(1)knownorpossiblehumancarcinogens,(2)
regulatedundertheSafeDrinkingWaterActfortheirriskstohumanhealth,or(3)listedas
hazardousairpollutantsundertheCleanAirAct.
114

ManyofthechemicalsusedinhydraulicfracturingfluidsarealsoregulatedundertheClean
WaterActfortheirtoxiceffectstohumanhealth,fishandwildlife.Moreinformationonthese
toxicsubstancescanbefoundbelow.
Carcinogens
TheCommitteefoundthatbetween2005and2009,hydraulicfracturingoperatorsused95
productscontaining13differentknown,probable,orpossiblecarcinogens.
115
Theseincluded
naphthalene,benzene,andacrylamide.IntheCommitteesstudy,companiesinjected10.2
milliongallonsoffracturingadditivescontainingatleastonecarcinogen.Manyofthese
chemicalsalsohaveadversenoncancerhumanhealtheffects,suchasimpactstothekidney,
liverandlungs.

113
NYSDEC,p.579.
114
U.S.HouseofRepresentativesCommitteeonEnergyandCommerce,p.8.
115
Ibid,p.9.
NorthCarolinaOilandGasStudy April2012
104

SafeDrinkingWaterActconsiderations
Inmostcases,undergroundinjectionofchemicalsrequiresapermitundertheUnderground
InjectionControl(UIC)provisionsoftheSafeDrinkingWaterAct(SDWA).Congressmodifiedthe
lawin2005,however,toexcludetheundergroundinjectionoffluidsorproppingagents(other
thandieselfuels)pursuanttohydraulicfracturingoperationsrelatedtooil,gas,orgeothermal
productionactivitiesfromregulationundertheAct.Unlessdieselfuelisusedinthehydraulic
fracturingprocess,EPAdoesnotregulatethepermanentundergroundinjectionofchemicals
usedforhydraulicfracturing.
116

Dieselfuelhasbeenusedasanadditiveinhydraulicfracturingfluidsandaccordingtosome
sources,companiescontinuetousedieselfuel.Theuseofdieselisaconcernbecauseit
containstoxicconstituents,includingtheBTEXcompoundsbenzene,toluene,ethylbenzeneand
xylenes.Benzeneisahumancarcinogen,whilechronicexposuretotoluene,ethylbenzeneor
xylenescandamagethecentralnervoussystem,liverandkidneys.
117

In2003,theEPAenteredintoamemorandumofagreementwiththethreelargestprovidersof
hydraulicfracturingfluidstoeliminatetheuseofdieselfuelinhydraulicfracturingfluids
injectedintocoalbedmethaneproductionwellsinundergroundsourcesofdrinkingwater.
118

Congressexcludeduseofdieselfuelinhydraulicfracturingfromthegeneralexemptionof
hydraulicfracturingfromregulationundertheUICprovisionsoftheSafeDrinkingWaterAct
becauseofconcernabouttheriskstodrinkingwaterfromdieselfuel.
119
Thismeansthatany
operatorwhousesdieselasahydraulicfracturingadditiveshouldreceiveapprovalunderthe
UICprogramtodoso.
ManyassumedthatthecombinationofEPAsmemorandumofagreementwithhydraulic
fracturingfluidprovidersandcontinuedregulationofhydraulicfracturingwithdieselfuelunder
theUICprogramwouldcausetheindustrytoabandonuseofdieselasahydraulicfracturing
additive.Infact,EPAstafftoldtheU.S.HouseofRepresentativesCommitteeonEnergyand
CommercethattheagencyassumedthattheMOAhadeliminatedmostdieseluse.
120
In
February2010,theCommitteebegananinvestigationintohydraulicfracturing,collecting
informationfrom14oilandgasservicecompanies.Thecompaniesvoluntarilyprovideddata,

116
Ibid.
117
UnitedStates.Cong.House.CommitteeonEnergyandCommerce.Waxman,Markey,andDeGette
InvestigationFindsContinuedUseofDieselinHydraulicFracturingFluids.January31,2011.Retrieved
January5,2012fromhttp://democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?q=news/waxmanmarkey
anddegetteinvestigationfindscontinueduseofdieselinhydraulicfracturingf.
118
UnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency.AMemorandumofAgreementbetweentheUnitedStates
EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyandBJServicesCompany,HalliburtonEnergyServices,Inc.,andSchlumberger
TechnologyCorporation.RetrievedFebruary26,2012from
http://s3.amazonaws.com/propublica/assets/natural_gas/diesel_agreement_031212.pdf.
119
UnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency.NaturalGasExtraction:HydraulicFracturing.Retrieved
January23,2012fromhttp://www.epa.gov/hydraulicfracture/#diesel.
120
UnitedStates.Cong.House.CommitteeonEnergyandCommerce.Waxman,Markey,andDeGette
InvestigationFindsContinuedUseofDieselinHydraulicFracturingFluids.January31,2011.Retrieved
January5,2012fromhttp://democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?q=news/waxmanmarkey
anddegetteinvestigationfindscontinueduseofdieselinhydraulicfracturingf.
NorthCarolinaOilandGasStudy April2012
105

includingmaterialsafetydatasheets,onthevolumeofdieselfuelandotheradditivesused
from2005to2009.TheCommitteefoundthat12ofthe14hydraulicfracturingcompanies
injectedmorethan30milliongallonsofdieselfuelorhydraulicfracturingfluidscontaining
dieselfuelinwellsin19states.Inaddition,theCommitteefoundthat60hydraulicfracturing
productsinusebetween2005and2009containedtheBTEXcompounds(benzene,toluene,
ethylbenzene,xylene).Thoseproductswereusedin11.4milliongallonsofhydraulicfracturing
fluids.
121

ToassesswhetherthesecompaniesobtainedtherequiredUICpermittousedieselfuelasa
hydraulicfracturingcomponentundertheSDWA,theCommitteecontactedstateagenciesand
EPAregionalofficesinthe19stateswheredieselfuelwasusedasacomponentofhydraulic
fracturingfluids.NostateorEPAofficecontactedhadeverissuedaUICpermitforuseofdiesel
fuelinfracturingorreceivedanapplicationforaUICpermittoauthorizeitsuse.Someofthe
stateregulatorswhowerecontactedexpresseddoubtthatdieselfuelhadbeenusedin
hydraulicfracturing.
122
EPAiscurrentlydevelopingpermittingguidanceforhydraulicfracturing
usingdieselfuelsunderSDWAUndergroundInjectionControlClassIIregulations.
TheUICexemptiondescribedonlyappliestoinjectionforpurposesoffracturing;underground
injectionofdrillingwastescontinuestorequireaClassIIinjectionwellpermitfromEPAora
statethathasauthoritytoimplementtheprogram.Atpresent,NorthCarolinahasanEPA
approvedprogramforpermittingofallclassesofinjectionwells,butN.C.GeneralStatute143
214.2(b)prohibitstheuseofwellsforwastedisposal.
Surfacewatercontamination
TheCleanWaterActappliestoanydischargeoffluidsusedorproducedinthehydraulic
fracturingprocesstosurfacewaters.Drillingwastewatermaybetemporarilystoredintanksor
pitsatthewellsite,wherespillsarepossible.Operatorswhodonotdisposeofwastewaterby
injectionintoundergroundinjectionwellsasdescribedabove,maytransportittowastewater
treatmentfacilitiesregulatedundertheCleanWaterAct,ordisposeofitthroughland
applicationmethodsregulatedbystates.
Thereareconcernsabouttheabilityofwastewatertreatmentplantstoadequatelytreatthis
typeofwastewater.In2011,Gov.TomCorbettandthePennsylvaniaDepartmentof
EnvironmentalProtectionaskednaturalgasdrillerstostopsendingwastewaterfromdrilling
operationstothe15publiclyownedwatertreatmentplantsthatwereacceptingitatthetime
becauseofconcernovertheelevatedlevelsofbromidebeingdischargedtoriversinthe
wastewatereffluent.Althoughbromideisnontoxic,whenbromidemixedwithchlorinefor

121
UnitedStates.Cong.House.CommitteeonEnergyandCommerce.ChemicalsUsedinHydraulicFracturing.
April2011.RetrievedJanuary5,2012from
http://democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Hydraulic%20Fracturing%20Report%
204.18.11.pdfp.10.

NorthCarolinaOilandGasStudy April2012
106

disinfectionatawatertreatmentfacilitiesbecomesacombinationofpotentiallyunsafe
compoundscalledTotalTrihalomethanes.
123

SomeofthechemicalsusedinthehydraulicfracturingprocesshaveNorthCarolinaSurface
WaterandGroundwaterQualityStandards;however,manydonot.Ifthesechemicalsare
releasedtoNorthCarolinawaters,defensibleandenforceablestatewaterqualitystandardsare
neededtoaddresspotentialadverseeffectstopublichealthandtheenvironment.
HazardousAirPollutants
TheCleanAirActrequiresEPAtocontroltheemissionsof187hazardousairpollutants.
Hazardousairpollutantsarepollutantsthatareknownoraresuspectedtocausecanceror
otherserioushealtheffects,suchasreproductiveproblems,birthdefectsordevelopmental,
respiratoryandotherhealthproblems.Hazardousairpollutantscanalsocauseadverse
environmentaleffects.Inadditiontoexposurethroughbreathing,hazardousairpollutantscan
bedepositedontosoilsorsurfacewatersandtakenupbyplantsoringestedbyanimals.
Humanscanthenbeexposedtothesetoxicpollutantsbyeatingexposedplantsoranimals.
Animalsmayalsoexperiencehealthproblemsifexposedtosufficientquantitiesofairtoxics
overtime.
124

EPAregulatesemissionsofhazardousairpollutantsthroughMaximumAchievableControl
Technology(MACT)standards.ThestateofNorthCarolinaissuesfederalCleanAirActpermits
thatincludeMACTstandardsforanyfederallyregulatedsourceofhazardousairemissionsin
thestate.NorthCarolinaalsohasastatehealthbasedprogramtoregulateemissionsoftoxic
airpollutants.Thestateprogram,whichhasbeenineffectsinceMay1,1990,regulates105
toxicairpollutants(TAPs).MostoftheTAPsarealsoconsideredHAPsbytheEPA.Thestate
programreachessomesourcesoftoxicairemissionsthatarenotregulatedunderthefederal
program.
AccordingtothesurveyofchemicalsusedinhydraulicfracturingoperationsbytheU.S.House
EnergyandCommerceCommittee,oilandgascompaniesused595productscontaining24
chemicalscapableofproducinghazardousairemissionsbetween2005and2009.
125
Examples
ofthesechemicalsincludedhydrogenfluoride,leadandmethanol.Hydrogenfluoridecancause
severeandsometimesdelayedhealtheffectsduetodeeptissuepenetration.Leadis
particularlyharmfultochildrensneurologicaldevelopmentbutcanalsocausehealthproblems
inadults.TheEPAreportsthatexposuretosmallamountsofmethanolcancauseheadaches,
incoordination,sleepdisorders,gastrointestinalproblemsandopticnervedamage.
126

123
Gresh,Katy.DEPCallsonNaturalGasDrillerstoStopGivingTreatmentFacilitiesWastewater.Pennsylvania
DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection.April19,2011.RetrievedFebruary26,2012from
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?id=17071&typeid=1.
124
EPA.http://www.epa.gov/oar/toxicair/newtoxics.html.RetrievedJanuary18,2012.
125
U.S.HouseofRepresentativesCommitteeonEnergyandCommerce,2011.
126
UnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency.ChemicalsintheEnvironment:Methanol(CASNo.67561).
August1994.RetrievedFebruary26,2012fromhttp://www.epa.gov/chemfact/f_methan.txt.
NorthCarolinaOilandGasStudy April2012
107

Endocrinedisruptors
Endocrinedisruptorsarechemicalsthatproduceadversedevelopmental,reproductive,
neurological,andimmuneeffectsinbothhumansandwildlife[andthey]mayposethegreatest
riskduringprenatalandearlypostnataldevelopmentwhenorganandneuralsystemsare
forming.
127
TheEndocrineDisruptionExchange(TEDX)hasconductedanalysisofthepotential
healtheffectsoftheproductsandchemicalsusedinnaturalgasoperations.TEDXisanonprofit
organizationdedicatedtocompilinganddisseminatingthescientificevidenceonthehealth
andenvironmentalproblemscausedbylowdoseexposuretochemicalsthatinterferewith
developmentandfunction,calledendocrinedisruptors.
128
Endocrinedisruptorscanhave
effectsatlowdoses,evenlowerthandosesusedfortraditionaltoxicologicalstudies.
129
TEDX
hascollectedinformationabouthydraulicfracturingproductsandchemicalsfromavarietyof
sources,includingenvironmentalimpactstatements,rulemakingdocuments,accidentandspill
reports,federalandstateagencies,thenaturalgasindustryandothersources.TEDXcollected
materialsafetydatasheets(MSDSs)foradditivescommonlyusedinhydraulicfracturing,which
containsomeinformationonthecompositionofproducts.MostMSDSsdonotdiscloseallof
thechemicalsinaproduct,andmaylistingredienttypes,suchassurfactantsorbiocides,rather
thanthespecificingredientname.TEDXusedMSDSsandothersourcestoidentifyChemical
AbstractServicenumbers,amorespecificwaytoidentifychemicalsbecauseCASnumbers
provideauniqueidentifier.
TEDXidentified980products,containingatotalof649chemicals.Basedonanalysisperformed
byTEDX,47percentofthe980productsexaminedcontainedchemicalsconsideredtobe
endocrinedisruptors.Theseproductshavethepotentialtoaffecttheendocrinesystem,
includinghumanandwildlifedevelopmentandreproduction.Theendocrinesystemis
susceptibletoverylowlevelsofexposure.
130

Chemicalsusedaboveground
Inadditiontothechemicalsthatarepumpedintowellborestoenhancehydraulicfracturing,
drillingfornaturalgasinvolvestheuseofanumberofchemicalsaboveground.Thesechemicals
couldpotentiallyposeathreattopublichealthortheenvironmentiftheyarespilledeitherat
thedrillingsiteorintransit.Drillingrigsrequirepowertodrillandcasewellbores.Typically,in
theMarcellusShale,thispowerwouldbeprovidedbytransportabledieselengines.
131
During
hydraulicfracturing,Toinjecttherequiredwatervolumeandachievethenecessarypressure,
upto20dieselpumpertrucksoperatingsimultaneouslyarenecessaryforaperiodoftwoto

127
NationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealthSciences.EndocrineDisruptors.RetrievedApril14,2012from
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm.
128
TheEndocrineDisruptionExchange.RetrievedApril14,2012from
http://www.endocrinedisruption.org/home.php.
129
Vandenberg,LauraN.etal.HormonesandEndocrineDisruptingChemicals:LowDoseEffectsand
NonmonotonicDoseResponses.EndocrineReviews,June2012.RetrievedApril14,2012from
http://edrv.endojournals.org/content/early/2012/03/14/er.20111050.full.pdf+html.
130
TheEndocrineDisruptionExchange.HealthEffectsSpreadsheetandSummary.RetrievedApril14,2012from
http://www.endocrinedisruption.org/files/Multistatesummary12711Final.pdf.
131
NYSDEC,p.6196.
NorthCarolinaOilandGasStudy April2012
108

fivedaysperwell.
132
DieselisstoredonthewellpadforthispurposeandThedieseltank
fuelingstoragemaybelargerthan10,000gallonsincapacityandmaybeinonelocationona
multiwellpadforthelengthoftimerequiredtodrillallofthewellsonthepad.
133

Inadditiontouseinhydraulicfracturingoperations,hazardousairpollutantsalsooriginate
frommobilesources,suchasthetrucksthatareusedbygasdrillingcompanies.Thepotential
impactsfromairemissionsarediscussedinSection4.Fofthisreport.
Regulationofhydraulicfracturingchemicaldisclosure
Somestatesrequirethedisclosureofthechemicaladditivesusedinhydraulicfracturingfluids.
Thelevelofdisclosurerequiredvariesbystate.Sofar,Coloradoistheonlystatetorequirethe
namesandconcentrationsofallindividualchemicalsused.
134
Somestatesmerelyrequirethe
compilationofmaterialsafetydatasheets(MSDSs)foradditives.TheOccupationalSafetyand
HealthAdministration(OSHA)requireschemicalmanufacturerstocreateanMSDSforevery
producttheyselltocommunicatepotentialhealthandsafetyhazardstoemployeesand
employers.TheMSDSmustlistallhazardousingredientsthatcompriseatleast1percentofthe
product;forcarcinogens,thereportingthresholdis0.1percent.
135
Chemicalmanufacturersdo
nothavetodisclosetradesecretinformationonMSDSs,whichallowsmanyadditivesusedin
hydraulicfracturingtobewithheld.SomestatesrequirethatoperatorsalsodiscloseCAS
registrynumbers,theuniquenumericalidentifiersforchemicals.
ManystatesallowreportingofchemicalinformationtobemadetoFracFocus
(www.fracfocus.org),awebsitemanagedbytheGroundWaterProtectionCouncilandthe
InterstateOilandGasCompactCommissionthatservesasatypeofclearinghouseforthis
information.Thesitewascreatedtoprovidethepublicaccesstoreportedchemicalsfor
hydraulicfracturing,butalsoincludesobjectiveinformationonhydraulicfracturing,the
chemicalsused,thepurposestheyserveandthemeansbywhichgroundwaterisprotected.
AlthoughFracFocusprovidesaconvenientlocationforchemicaldisclosureinformationfrom
severalstates,itdoeshavesomelimitations.Mostnotably,informationisprovidedvia.pdf
documentsforeachwellandisnotinadatabaseorspreadsheetformatthatcouldbeusedto
analyzedataacrosscounties,statesorothergeographies.GWPCplanstoreleaseanewversion
ofFracFocusinlate2012thatwillincludethecapabilitytoprovidedatatostates,thoughnot
thegeneralpublic,inspreadsheetformat.
136

Arkansasrequirescompaniestodiscloseallfracturingfluids,additives,chemicalconstituents
andCASnumberstotheArkansasOilandGasCommission,withtheexceptionofchemicalsthat

132
NYSDEC,p.6296.
133
NYSDEC,p.733.
134
Groeger,Lena.FederalRulestoDiscloseFrackingChemicalsCouldComewithExceptions.ProPublica.
February16,2012.RetrievedFebruary27,2012fromhttp://www.propublica.org/article/federalrulestodisclose
frackingchemicalscouldcomewithexceptions.
135
U.S.HouseofRepresentativesCommitteeonEnergyandCommerce,2011.
136
MikeNickolaus,GWPC.Personalcommunication,March12,2012.
NorthCarolinaOilandGasStudy April2012
109

areconsideredtradesecrets.
137
Informationonconcentrationsusedisnotrequired,but
operatorsreportthepercentbyvolumeofeachproductused.Theinformationisdisclosedto
thestateandmustbeprovidedtohealthcareprofessionalswhorequireit.Thechemicalfamily
isdisclosedtothepublicusingthestatewebsite.Theinformationisduebeforehydraulic
fracturingbeginsandupdatesmustbesubmittedafterhydraulicfracturing.
138
Therulebecame
effectiveonJan.15,2011.
139

Coloradorequiresdrillerstodiscloseallthechemicalsusedinhydraulicfracturing,aswellas
theconcentrationsofeachchemicalandtheCASnumbers.Certainchemicalnamescanbe
withheldastradesecrets.Operatorsarealsorequiredtodisclosethesechemicalstothepublic
usingtheFracFocuswebsiteanddirectlytotheColoradoOil&GasConservationCommission.
Chemicals,includingthoseconsideredtradesecrets,mustalsobedisclosedtohealth
professionalsinanemergencywhendisclosureisnecessary.Therequirementswillbeeffective
April1,2012.
140
ThetradesecretprovisionsofColoradosruleareslightlydifferentthanin
otherstates.Whereasinotherstates,companiescandeterminewhichchemicalsaretrade
secretsorstateregulatorsorthegovernorsignoffontradesecretrequests,InColorado,
companieswillberequiredtosignalegallybindingformtodeclareachemicalproprietary.
Drillerswholiecouldbechargedwithperjury.
141
TheinformationmustbepostedtoFracFocus
within60daysfollowingtheconclusionofthehydraulicfracturingtreatment.
142

LouisianarequiresoperatorstodiscloseadditivesinproductssubjecttoOccupationalSafety
andHealthAdministration(OSHA)HazardCommunicationrequirements(29CFR1910.1200),
whichrequiresMSDSsforchemicalsconsideredhazardoustoworkersafety.Forthese
additives,Louisianarequiresthedisclosureofthechemicalnamesandconcentrationsofthe
chemicals.OperatorscaneitherreportdisclosureinformationtotheOfficeofConservationor
postittotheFracFocuswebsitewithin20daysofwellcompletion.
143
Accordingtothe
DepartmentofNaturalResources,TheLouisianaregulationhasnoeffectonrulesorlaws
mandatingdisclosureoftradesecretinformationtohealthcareproviders.Therulesare
effectiveasofOct.20,2011.
144

Michiganrequiresthatmaterialsafetydatasheetsbefiledforhazardouschemicalsand
matchedwiththeproductsintowhichtheygo.Operatorsdisclosearangeofconcentrations,
nottheexactconcentration.Proprietaryinformationisnotdisclosedtoregulatorsorthepublic.

137
LouisianaDepartmentofNaturalResources.ComparisonofStateHydraulicFracturingChemicalDisclosure
Regulations.December30,2011.RetrievedFebruary27,2012from
http://dnr.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=888.
138
ProPublica.FrackingChemicalDisclosureRules.February16,2012.RetrievedFebruary27,2012from
http://www.propublica.org/special/frackingchemicaldisclosurerules.
139
LouisianaDepartmentofNaturalResources,2011.
140
Ibid.
141
Detrow,Scott.ColoradoApprovesFrackingDisclosureRegulations.StateImpact.December14,2011.
RetrievedFebruary27,2012fromhttp://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2011/12/14/coloradoapproves
frackingdisclosureregulations/.
142
ProPublica.FrackingChemicalDisclosureRules.February16,2012.
143
Ibid.
144
LouisianaDepartmentofNaturalResources,2011.
NorthCarolinaOilandGasStudy April2012
110

MSDSsarepostedonthestatewebsiteandmustbeprovidedwithin60daysofdrilling
completion.
145

MontanarequiresoperatorstodisclosethenamesandCASnumbersofchemicalsthatarenot
deemedtradesecretstotheMontanaOilandGasBoardortotheFracFocuswebsite.
Operatorsprovidethechemicalfamilyandthemaximumconcentrationofchemicals,notthe
actualconcentration.Proprietarychemicals,asdeterminedbythewelloperator,canbe
withheldbutmustbedisclosedtohealthcareprofessionalsinanemergency.MSDSsare
requiredbeforehydraulicfracturingbeginsandafteritiscomplete.Disclosuremustbemade
beforehydraulicfracturingbeginsandafteritiscompleted.
146
Therequirementsareeffective
forallhydraulicfracturingperformedafterAug.27,2011.
147

Ohiorequiresmaterialsafetydatasheets,whichlisttheproductschemicalcomponentsand
CASnumbers.Concentrationsofchemicalsarenotdisclosed.Proprietaryinformationisnot
disclosedtoregulatorsorthepublic.Nospecificrequirementsareinplaceformedical
disclosure,butaregulatorfromtheOhioDept.ofNaturalResourcessaidhesconfidentthe
informationwouldbeprovidedtohealthcareprofessionalsinanemergency.
148
The
informationisrequired60daysafterdrillingiscompleteandispostedonthestatewebsite.
149

NewMexicorecentlyadoptedregulationsthatrequireoperatorstodisclosealladditivesused
inhydraulicfracturingfluidsandthenamesandconcentrationsofchemicalsthataresubjectto
OSHAHazardCommunicationrequirements.Operatorsdonothavetodisclosetradesecret
information.DisclosurecanbemadebyreportingtotheOilConservationDivision.Theruleis
effectiveasofFeb.15,2012.
150

NorthDakotahaspassednewrulesrelatedtohydraulicfracturingthatbecameeffectiveon
April1,2012.Therevisedregulationrequirestheowner,operatororservicecompanytopost
toFracFocusallelementsmadeviewablebytheFracFocuswebsite,
151
whichincludesthe
totalvolumeofwaterusedatthewell,thetradenamesofchemicalsused,thesupplierofeach
chemical,thepurposeofeachchemical,theingredients,thechemicalabstractservicenumber,
themaximumingredientconcentrationintheadditive,andthemaximumingredient
concentrationinthehydraulicfracturingfluid.
152

PennsylvaniahasaregulationrequiringoperatorstodisclosetothePennsylvaniaOfficeofOil
andGasManagementthenamesofproductsandchemicals,withoutmatchingthemwiththe
productsintowhichtheygo.Operatorsmustalsodisclosethenamesandconcentrationsof

145
ProPublica.FrackingChemicalDisclosureRules.February16,2012.
146
Ibid.
147
LouisianaDepartmentofNaturalResources,2011.
148
ProPublica.FrackingChemicalDisclosureRules.February16,2012.
149
Ibid.
150
Title19,NewMexicoAdministrativeCode,Chapter15,Part16.
151
NorthDakotaIndustrialCommission.OrderoftheCommission.Caseno.15869,Orderno.18123.January23,
2012.RetrievedFebruary27,2012fromhttps://www.dmr.nd.gov/oilgas/or18123.pdf.
152
ThislistofelementsviewableontheFracFocuswebsitewastakenfromtheHydraulicFracturingFluidProduct
ComponentInformationDisclosurefortheDave2HwellinBradfordCounty,Pennsylvania,retrievedFebruary27,
2012fromhttp://www.hydraulicfracturingdisclosure.org/fracfocusfind/.
NorthCarolinaOilandGasStudy April2012
111

chemicalssubjecttoOSHAHazardCommunicationrequirements.
153
Allchemicalconstituents
mustbeprovidedbytheoperatorifthedepartmentmakesarequestinwriting.
154
The
informationisrequiredwithin30daysofwellcompletion.Itisnotpostedonlinebutisavailable
byrequestfromtheDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection.
155
Tradesecretinformationis
protected.TherequirementsareeffectiveasofFeb.5,2012.
156

Texasrecentlyreviseditschemicaldisclosurerules.Therevisedrulesrequirethatservice
companiesdisclosetooperatorsthenamesofproducts,chemicalsthatarenotdeemedtrade
secrets,andtheirCASnumbers.Onlyhazardouschemicalsarematchedwiththeproductsof
whichtheyareacomponent.Theconcentrationsofchemicalconstituentsareonlyrequiredfor
chemicalssubjecttoOSHAHazardCommunicationrequirements.
157
Alistingofchemical
ingredientsusedtohydraulicallyfractureawellthathasbeenpermittedbytheTexasRailroad
CommissiononorafterFeb.1,2012,mustbeuploadedtotheFracFocuswebsite.Asupplier,
servicecompanyoroperatorisnotrequiredtodisclosetradesecretinformationunlessthe
AttorneyGeneralorcourtdeterminestheinformationisnotentitledtotradesecret
protection.
158

Wyominghasaregulationrequiringoperatorsorservicecompaniestodisclosethenamesof
products,chemicalsandtheirCASnumbers.Operatorsmustdiscloseproductconcentrations
butnottheconcentrationsofindividualchemicalcomponentstothesupervisorofthe
WyomingOilandGasConservationCommission.Theinformationisnotmadepublic.
159
Trade
secretinformationiskeptconfidentialaccordingtotheWyomingPublicRecordsAct.The
requirementshavebeenineffectsinceAug.17,2010.
160

TheUnitedStatesBureauofLandManagement(BLM)hasdevelopeddraftregulations
applicabletowellsthatarehydraulicallyfracturedonfederalland.Theproposedruleswould
requirethedisclosureofthenamesofproducts,chemicalsandCASnumbers.Concentrationsof
chemicalswouldbedisclosedforsomeproducts.Atthistimetherulesarestilladraft,anditis
unclearwhethertheinformationcollectedbyBLMwouldbepostedpublicly.
161
BLMsproposed
ruleswouldalsocompelcompaniestoreportthetotalvolumeoffrackingfluidused,aswellas
howtheyintendtorecoveranddisposeofit.
162

153
ProPublica.FrackingChemicalDisclosureRules.February16,2012.
154
LouisianaDepartmentofNaturalResources,2011.
155
ProPublica.FrackingChemicalDisclosureRules.February16,2012.
156
Ibid.
157
ProPublica.FrackingChemicalDisclosureRules.February16,2012.
158
Nye,Ramona.RailroadCommissionersAdoptOneofNationsMostComprehensiveHydraulicFracturing
ChemicalDisclosureRequirements.RailroadCommissionofTexas.December13,2011.RetrievedFebruary27,
2012fromhttp://www.rrc.state.tx.us/pressreleases/2011/121311.php.
159
ProPublica.FrackingChemicalDisclosureRules.February16,2012.
160
LouisianaDepartmentofNaturalResources,2011.
161
ProPublica.FrackingChemicalDisclosureRules.February16,2012.RetrievedFebruary27,2012from
http://www.propublica.org/special/frackingchemicaldisclosurerules.
162
Groeger,2012.
NorthCarolinaOilandGasStudy April2012
112

ExistingregulationoftradesecretsinNorthCarolina
NorthCarolinadoesnotcurrentlyhaveastatuteorrulethatwouldrequiredisclosureof
hydraulicfracturingfluids.ExistingprovisionsinthestatesPublicRecordsActmayprotect
proprietaryinformationsubmittedtostateregulatorsaspartofapermitapplicationorin
responsetoarequest.UnderG.S.1321.2,apublicagencymaynotdiscloseinformationthat
meetsthefollowingcriteria:
TheinformationwouldbeatradesecretasdefinedinG.S.66152.3;
Theinformationisownedbyaprivateperson(whichmayincludeacorporation);
Theinformationhasbeenprovidedforpurposesofcomplyingwithlocal,stateor
federalstatutes,rulesorordinances;and
Theinformationwasmarkedasconfidentialortradesecretinformationwhenitwas
submittedtothepublicagency.
UnderG.S.66152.3,tradesecretmeansbusinessortechnicalinformation,includingbutnot
limitedtoaformula,pattern,program,device,compilationofinformation,method,technique,
orprocessthat:
a. Derivesindependentactualorpotentialcommercialvaluefromnotbeinggenerally
knownorreadilyascertainablethroughindependentdevelopmentorreverse
engineeringbypersonswhocanobtaineconomicvaluefromitsdisclosureoruse;and
b. Isthesubjectofeffortsthatarereasonableunderthecircumstancestomaintainits
secrecy.
Otherprovisionsofstatelawmayprovideadditionalinsightsintowhattypesofinformation
mayormaynotbeprotectedasatradesecret.Forexample,G.S.143215.3C(b)providesthat
informationrelatedtoemissionsofairpollutantscannotbeprotectedasatradesecret.
Conclusionsrelatedtohydraulicfracturingadditives
WerecommendthattheGeneralAssemblyrequirefulldisclosureofhydraulicfracturing
chemicalsandconstituentstothestateregulatoryagencyandtolocalgovernmentemergency
responseofficials.WealsorecommendthattheGeneralAssemblyshouldencouragethe
industrytodiscloseallhydraulicfracturingchemicalsandconstituentstothepublicthroughthe
FracFocuswebsiteorastateagencywebsite.TheGeneralAssemblymayneedtoclarifyhow
currentprotectionsfortradesecretsunderstatelawapplytotheidentificationofchemicals
usedinhydraulicfracturing.
Theuseofdieselfuelinfracturingfluidshouldbecompletelyprohibitedbecauseitcontains
toxicconstituents,includingtheBTEXcompoundsbenzene,toluene,ethylbenzeneandxylenes.
Benzeneisahumancarcinogen,whilechronicexposuretotoluene,ethylbenzeneorxylenes
candamagethecentralnervoussystem,liverandkidneys.