The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created an “Eyes on Drilling” tip line for the public to report nonemergency suspicious activity related to oil and natural gas development.

The tip line has been set up to principally handle complaints from residents in the Marcellus shale region, which covers a several states in the Mid-Atlantic region, said David Sternberg, spokesman for EPA’s regional office in Philadelphia. “We’ve certainly had dozens of calls” from residents in the Marcellus area, expressing concerns about the potential impact of hydraulic drilling and disposal of brine water on drinking water, he said.

While the tip line is intended for drilling activities in the Mid-Atlantic, “if people call from other regions complaining, we will handle the calls and pass them along to the appropriates people,” Sternberg said.

The tip line (1-877-919-4EPA) will give the public a chance to report, either anonymously or otherwise, incidents involving the illegal disposal of wastes or other suspicious activity. Reports can also be sent via e-mail to eyesondrilling@epa.gov, the agency said.

Reporting parties will be asked to provide a number of details: the location, time and date of the suspicious activity, as well as the materials, equipment and vehicles involved and any observable environmental impacts.

The EPA said the public’s concern about the environmental impacts of oil and natural gas drilling has peaked in recent months, particularly with respect to development of the prolific Marcellus formation, which includes parts of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. Operators use a technique called hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracing) to stimulate production of gas from the shale rock.

The “chemicals used in [hydrofracing] are often stored onsite. Spills can occur when utilizing these chemicals or when transporting or storing wastewater, which can result in the contamination of surface water or ground water,” the agency said.

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