The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set the first-ever national standards to control air pollution from gas wells drilled through hydraulic fracturing or "fracking." The regulations seek to control pollution without slowing natural gas production. Hydraulic fracturing is largely responsible for an increase in natural gas drilling, but has raised environmental concerns for its toll on air and water.
Drillers will be given more than two years to employ technology to reduce emissions of smog- and soot-forming pollutants and must burn off gas in the meantime, an alternative that can release smog-forming nitrogen oxides, but will still slash overall emissions. The standards earned mixed reactions from environmental groups, as reported in the Toledo Blade. For more, read the full story.
