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Injection Wells May Not Be As Safe As Previously Thought

Huffington Post -- Over the past several decades, U.S. industries have injected more than 30 trillion gallons of toxic liquid deep into the earth, using broad expanses of the nation's geology as an invisible dumping ground.

No company would be allowed to pour such dangerous chemicals into the rivers or onto the soil. But until recently, scientists and environmental officials have assumed that deep layers of rock beneath the earth would safely entomb the waste for millennia.

There are growing signs they were mistaken.

Records from disparate corners of the United States show that wells drilled to bury this waste deep beneath the ground have repeatedly leaked, sending dangerous chemicals and waste gurgling to the surface or, on occasion, seeping into shallow aquifers that store a significant portion

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Submitted Jun 23, 2012 By: LetemEatCake

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drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:8,950 Points:753,185 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jun 24, 2012 10:13:32 AM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse LOL, integrity is key NHLiveunfree, that's why I always post items based in truth, not lies and deception.
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:6,973 Points:2,118,590 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jun 24, 2012 5:58:06 AM Ignore remay Report Abuse Not good news...
KAR120CSII Champion Author Oregon Posts:3,188 Points:622,545 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 11:06:13 PM Ignore KAR120CSII Report Abuse You don't say?
slowpoke Veteran Author Virginia Posts:277 Points:101,880 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 10:56:14 PM Ignore slowpoke Report Abuse Of course, we take enormous risks with our health and lives if we frack. Why poison our precious earth?
goldrose1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:10,946 Points:1,926,555 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 10:16:42 PM Ignore goldrose1 Report Abuse How can any engineer or consultant know what happens down in the earth after we stuff waste down a hole?
teafortwo Champion Author Washington Posts:22,132 Points:1,387,015 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 8:31:20 PM Ignore teafortwo Report Abuse Very informative article Cake. Thanks for sharing. FROM THE ARTICLE: Federal rules divide wells into six classes based on the material they hold and the industry that produced it. Class 1 wells handle the most hazardous materials, including fertilizers, acids and deadly compounds such as asbestos, PCBs and cyanide. The energy industry has its own category, Class 2, which includes disposal wells and wells in which fluids are injected to force out trapped oil and gas. The most common wells, called Class 5, are a sort of catch-all for everything left over from the other categories, including storm-water runoff from gas stations. The EPA requires that Class 1 and 2 injection wells be drilled the deepest to assure that the most toxic waste is pushed far below drinking water aquifers. Both types of wells are supposed to be walled with multiple layers of steel tubing and cement and regularly monitored for cracks. The hard data that does exist comes from well inspections conducted by federal and state regulators, who can issue citations to operators for injecting illegally, for not maintaining wells, or for operating wells at unsafe pressures. This information is the EPA's primary means of tracking the system's health on a national scale. Yet, in response to questions from ProPublica, the EPA acknowledged it has done very little with the data it collects. The agency could not provide ProPublica with a tally of how frequently wells fail or of how often disposal regulations are violated. It has not counted the number of cases of waste migration or contamination in more than 20 years. The agency often accepts reports from state injection regulators that are partly blank, contain conflicting figures or are missing key details, ProPublica found. In 2007, the EPA launched a national data system to centralize reports on injection wells. As of September 2011 — the last time the EPA issued a public update — less than half of the state and local regulatory agencies overseeing injection were contributing to the database. It contained complete information from only a handful of states, accounting for a small fraction of the deep wells in the country. The EPA did not respond to questions seeking more detail about how it handles its data, or about how the agency judges whether its oversight is working. In a 2008 interview with ProPublica, one EPA scientist acknowledged shortcomings in the way the agency oversees the injection program. "It's assumed that the monitoring rules and requirements are in place and are protective — that's assumed," said Gregory Oberley, an EPA groundwater specialist who studies injection and water issues in the Rocky Mountain region. "You're not going to know what's going on until someone's well is contaminated and they are complaining about it." *** ProPublica's analysis of case histories and EPA data from October 2007 to October 2010 showed that when an injection well fails, it is most often because of holes or cracks in the well structure itself. Operators are required to do so-called "mechanical integrity" tests at regular intervals, yearly for Class 1 wells and at least once every five years for Class 2 wells. In 2010, the tests led to more than 7,500 violations nationally, with more than 2,300 wells failing. In Texas, one violation was issued for every three Class 2 wells examined in 2010. Such breakdowns can have serious consequences. Damage to the cement or steel casing can allow fluids to seep into the earth, where they could migrate into water supplies. Regulators say redundant layers of protection usually prevent waste from getting that far, but EPA data shows that in the three years analyzed by ProPublica, more than 7,500 well test failures involved what federal water protection regulations describe as "fluid migration" and "significant leaks."
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,609 Points:1,206,455 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 7:59:48 PM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse Thanks to everyone for their comments!
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,105 Points:1,624,380 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 7:33:55 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse What would the soda pop doc know about integrity? This news article actually includes statements by REAL degreed geologists rather than shill specialists for Big Oil & Gas.
drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:8,950 Points:753,185 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 6:57:35 PM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse "The Huffington Post should have posted a link to the ProPublica article" ================== True but with absolutely zero journalistic integrity what else would one expect from the Chuffington Imposters???
jb107 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:9,559 Points:2,623,850 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 6:16:17 PM Ignore jb107 Report Abuse Don't permit things like this until they have been proved safe.
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,079 Points:1,449,300 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 5:12:58 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse Bummer...
jethro5000 Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,887 Points:393,185 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 4:50:10 PM Ignore jethro5000 Report Abuse I saw this on Dallas...
ssect8 Champion Author Hartford Posts:7,999 Points:2,094,495 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 3:58:52 PM Ignore ssect8 Report Abuse Just more BS.
katmandue Champion Author Detroit Posts:8,076 Points:2,135,095 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 3:42:48 PM Ignore katmandue Report Abuse Don't tell the teapartiers/GOBPers they have there own nonfacts to believe.
wulf2000 Champion Author Miami Posts:3,032 Points:1,390,655 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 2:53:40 PM Ignore wulf2000 Report Abuse Interesting read.
Blue48 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,315 Points:1,639,895 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 2:51:21 PM Ignore Blue48 Report Abuse DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW!
1178richmond Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,901 Points:799,250 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 2:26:59 PM Ignore 1178richmond Report Abuse ok
Dremwolf Veteran Author Jacksonville Posts:476 Points:94,370 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 2:24:50 PM Ignore Dremwolf Report Abuse Just like scientists thought it was safe to dump toxic waste into pits. Now those pits are leaking...
Buck_on_Bass Champion Author Tennessee Posts:7,579 Points:1,457,485 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 2:23:40 PM Ignore Buck_on_Bass Report Abuse The Huffington Post should have posted a link to the ProPublica article.
Bubba44612 Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,401 Points:1,878,055 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 2:21:58 PM Ignore Bubba44612 Report Abuse Really they were wrong!
RocketGeek Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:10,602 Points:2,110,335 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 2:21:46 PM Ignore RocketGeek Report Abuse And saliva causes cancer.
FreeeBee Veteran Author Atlanta Posts:343 Points:224,595 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 2:21:35 PM Ignore FreeeBee Report Abuse U.S. industries have injected more than 30 trillion gallons of toxic liquid deep into the earth..... where is EPA and what are they doing about it? take it to the mars or mercury.. and leave the earth alone.. clean and safe..
Wanda127 Champion Author Florida Posts:2,499 Points:916,005 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 2:09:44 PM Ignore Wanda127 Report Abuse I agree isem & Bald1usa
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,282 Points:2,373,320 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 2:08:32 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse i have to wonder if rosie odonnel wrote this piece
Bald1usa Veteran Author District of Columbia Posts:383 Points:848,965 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 2:07:45 PM Ignore Bald1usa Report Abuse Consider the source! Want to see something interesting? Check out Rep. John Fleming Energy Sub-committee on Fracking.
isem Champion Author Missouri Posts:1,936 Points:425,135 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 2:04:40 PM Ignore isem Report Abuse Do not believe everything you read, especially if it is in the left-wing Huffington Post.
Alfied Champion Author Riverside Posts:7,945 Points:1,757,235 Joined:Jun 2001	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:57:23 PM Ignore Alfied Report Abuse But we need oil!
daveinmarietta Champion Author Atlanta Posts:1,192 Points:178,335 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:55:23 PM Ignore daveinmarietta Report Abuse Terrifying article.
DickAAA Champion Author St. Louis Posts:2,266 Points:1,362,685 Joined:Jan 2005	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:52:12 PM Ignore DickAAA Report Abuse Profit will defeat the environment every time. Big oil, chemicals and mining have devastated many areas.
JMRW80 Veteran Author Massachusetts Posts:445 Points:66,880 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:51:19 PM Ignore JMRW80 Report Abuse The Earth is a closed system, of course it's not safe to just bury toxic waste. What part of toxic is confusing? Maybe it's the concept of closed system? Would anyone like me to explain it?
ProRogue Veteran Author Vancouver Posts:382 Points:1,085,990 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:49:32 PM Ignore ProRogue Report Abuse Believe it.
egd Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:8,100 Points:2,120,250 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:48:50 PM Ignore egd Report Abuse good luck, what is clean water worth to you
ericbcire Champion Author Nevada Posts:4,530 Points:1,268,685 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:48:14 PM Ignore ericbcire Report Abuse Don't believe everything you read.
Road-Runner Champion Author Denver Posts:7,046 Points:1,905,165 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:45:00 PM Ignore Road-Runner Report Abuse No surprise. Sooner or later both industry and government are going to have to learn that the only sure method of disposing of toxic wastes is to neutralize the stuff chemically or biologically, before recycling or disposing of it.
Retowered Champion Author Colorado Posts:8,587 Points:2,687,365 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:44:21 PM Ignore Retowered Report Abuse Only time will tell & it don't sound good.
padlocks2 Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,062 Points:621,880 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:42:45 PM Ignore padlocks2 Report Abuse Ok
BlueOnyx All-Star Author Georgia Posts:620 Points:1,271,280 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:41:43 PM Ignore BlueOnyx Report Abuse We'd better ramp up NASA and new space exploration vehicles, cause we'll need a back-up planet once we've totally destroyed this one. I just hope it doesn't happen in my lifetime...
pickledude72 Champion Author California Posts:1,120 Points:837,095 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:38:47 PM Ignore pickledude72 Report Abuse If there is no crisis to up the gas prices, the oil company and the EPA will dream up one.
Cachase1 Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:11,460 Points:2,382,055 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:37:14 PM Ignore Cachase1 Report Abuse We are still seeing no problems here. This has been practiced for decades.
EmperorsFinest Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,564 Points:340,870 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:36:45 PM Ignore EmperorsFinest Report Abuse No fracking....
BWALL2700 Champion Author Illinois Posts:2,174 Points:195,735 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:36:14 PM Ignore BWALL2700 Report Abuse Water = life. Destroy water= destroy life.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,282 Points:2,373,320 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:35:19 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse may not ????????????? such scientific jargon.........
Teddy95 Champion Author Dayton Posts:41,150 Points:2,697,100 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:34:44 PM Ignore Teddy95 Report Abuse Hmmm...
bart_reed Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,979 Points:786,605 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:34:16 PM Ignore bart_reed Report Abuse Yes, there is a threat.
teafortwo Champion Author Washington Posts:22,132 Points:1,387,015 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:27:49 PM Ignore teafortwo Report Abuse The need to protect ourselves from these BIG GREED corporations is not a new problem. The BIG GREED spend MILLION$ on disinformation with lobbyists, shills and spin doctors. Presently BIG TOBACCO is trying to get legislation passed to exempt cigars from FDA oversight. Since BIG TOBACCO is no longer allowed to sell cigarettes to children? They seem to think it is only 'fair' they be allowed to sell cigars to children .... HELLO? In much the same way; BIG OIL & GAS think fracking is much too profitable to worry about a little thing like poisoning people :0\ These BIG GREED buzzards only stop when they are forced to stop. Follow the money.
kzza100 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,948 Points:576,195 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:19:10 PM Ignore kzza100 Report Abuse ok
Gramps001 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,862 Points:1,366,365 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:13:49 PM Ignore Gramps001 Report Abuse The Post is huffing and puffing once again.
amteb All-Star Author Toledo Posts:513 Points:102,865 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:13:31 PM Ignore amteb Report Abuse Always something coming back to haunt us
salog Champion Author Columbia Posts:7,710 Points:1,640,085 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:08:56 PM Ignore salog Report Abuse they did it to save money; so of course corners were cut
ss70 Champion Author Detroit Posts:9,669 Points:1,871,075 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jun 23, 2012 1:07:12 PM Ignore ss70 Report Abuse force the earth it will force it back