Martinez 1 Alejandro Martinez Mr.

Thomson Chemistry October 22, 2013 Forum Script The oil and gas company Chevron has expressed the concern that if regulation does happen, improvements in hydraulic fracturing will decline and it will not become safer overtime as fast as it would have occurred if we did not regulate hydraulic fracturing. We at the EPA believe this concern is fair but the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process are corrosive and hurtful to the environment not only that but the fracturing sites also release volatile organic compounds, hazardous air pollutants, and greenhouse gases. In the research that we have conducted 1000 unique chemicals have been found in the hydraulic fracturing sites. These issues do raise a concern on the dangers of unsafe hydraulic fracturing sites why else would Congress appoint the EPA to conduct research. The EPA works strongly with states to ensure that the fracturing sites do not affect the environment. If Chevron is committed to protecting land, water, and communities they would make the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process public record so that we can see what the problem is and fix it so we can make the people and environment safe. The chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process are corrosive yet Chevron does not provide investors with sufficient information to comprehend the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process are hazardous and dangerous. Which raises a bigger question what chemicals is Chevron using that they dont want to release to the public. According to the studies on hydraulic fracturing, including the study conducted by the EPA in March 2010 that found toxicity in hydraulic fracturing fluids we recommend that you come in compliance with The Clean Water Act which regulates the water that you dispose into the waters of the United States. With this law we have introduced pollution control programs which set wastewater

Martinez 2 standards for industries. The EPAs National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit controls discharges. We need to regulate these sites because they are unsafe to the land, water, and the communities. If regulation is going to dramatically decrease production, thats when you know youre not doing something right. Which is why Chevron needs to release the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process so that the EPA can regulate it and tell Chevron what they need to do to make the people safe and protect the environment so that we can live a cleaner greener life.