Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic Fracturing Research

In April 2013, Berkeley Law released a report on hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) in California, focusing on wastewater and potential water quality impacts. The report, Regulation of Hydraulic Fracturing in California: A Wastewater and Water Quality Perspective, is an independent analysis produced by Berkeley Law’s Center for Law, Energy & the Environment (CLEE) through its new initiative, the Wheeler Institute for Water Law & Policy (Wheeler Institute).

Reports and Articles:

Berkeley Law Environmental Law Society (ELS): FOIA Project

The Berkeley Law Environmental Law Society submitted two Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) requests to the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) in 2013 concerning hydraulic fracturing exceptions, exemptions and permits.

The first request was for: Copies of all reports, records, letters, notes or memoranda related to the EPA wastewater discharge exception at 40 C.F.R. 435.50-.52 that were released by EPA to National Public Radio (“NPR”) through FOIA requests in 2011 or 2012.  These FOIA requests were referenced in the November 15, 2012 NPR story by Elizabeth Shogren entitled “Loophole Lets Toxic Oil Water Flow Over Indian Land,” available at http://www.npr.org/2012/11/15/164688735/loophole-lets-toxic-oil-water-flow-over-indian-land.

The second request was for: Copies of all reports, records, letters, notes or memoranda pertaining to permits issued under the EPA wastewater discharge exception at 40 C.F.R. 435.50-.52 for wastewater discharges on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming and other Indian reservations in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

FOIA Request 1 – Rule Development:

FOIA Request 1- CBM Records

FOIA Requests