Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead has extended an olive branch to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the dispute over preliminary results from two federally managed groundwater tests concerning contaminated natural gas wells near Pavillion, WY (see NGI, Dec. 12, 2011).

EPA has said the local drinking water is safe, and Mead emphasized that the test wells focused on groundwater. However, in response to questions at a press conference last week in Cheyenne, WY, the governor acknowledged that gas wells were hydraulically fractured (fracked) at extremely shallow depths compared to typical gas drilling, and therefore drinking water supplies may be unusually close to the well work.

Even with assurances about the drinking water, Mead said a “fair number” of Pavillion residents are concerned about drinking water quality, and as a result, they have five-gallon containers of water being supplied by Encana Corp., which operates the gas leasehold under investigation (see NGI, Jan. 2).

“I don’t think that since the last test results came out, tests have shown anything different,” Mead said. “That is why I think the state and EPA need to get back in there to do additional testing. But despite all the public interest in this, I don’t think this should be a political issue. To me it is an issue of having valid tests, valid review and valid conclusions, and then developing new policy based on those conclusions. So additional testing does need to be done, and we are working on that now” with state and EPA officials, he said.

Geology in the area makes for a “somewhat unique formation.” Gas wells are drilled only 1,200 feet in some spots and in some cases the depth of a gas well is shallower than a water well, he said.

“It is too early to draw any conclusions, and I think everyone needs to get back to work with the testing, and the examination of the formation, the geology and the water before we reach any conclusions.”

Last Wednesday, Mead’s spokesperson told NGI that further testing needed to be done. “Gov. Mead has spoken with the oil and gas industry about the need for further testing, hopefully leading to clear scientific conclusions. Without regard to test results he has asked if industry would contribute to a long-term water solution.”

Earlier this year Mead asked that the state be allowed to partner with EPA to conduct more sampling and perhaps drill more wells. He also wants EPA to cooperate in a scientific review and analysis of groundwater quality in Pavillion. Mead said he has not reviewed the estimated 600 documents of additional EPA information on its testing, but state environmental staff are in the process of sorting through data.

“This illustrates why we wanted additional time to get and review all the data that is available,” the governor said. “I think time is needed by EPA itself to convene the review panel and have it operate. That panel is going to need some time to wade through everything, so I don’t think we have delayed anything.”

©Copyright 2012Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news reportmay not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in anyform, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.