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Request for Information To Inform Hydraulic Fracturing Research Related to Drinking Water ResourcesNov 09, 2012 (FIND, Inc. via COMTEX) -- SUMMARY: EPA is inviting the public to submit data and scientific literature to inform EPA's research on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. DATES: EPA will accept data and literature in response to this request until April 30, 2013. ADDRESSES: Using the online method is preferred for submitting information. Follow the online instructions at http://www.regulations.gov, and identify your submission with Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0674. Additional methods for submission are: . Email: Send information by electronic mail (email) to: [email protected], Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0674. . Fax: Fax information to: (202) 566-9744, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ- ORD-2010-0674. . Mail: Send information by mail to: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, Mail Code: 28221T, 1200 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0674. . Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver information to: EPA Docket Center, EPA West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0674. Deliveries are only accepted during the docket's normal hours of operation, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Eastern), Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. Special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. Instructions: Direct your information to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2010- 0674. EPA's policy is that all information received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or email. The www.regulations.gov Web site is an "anonymous access" system, which means the EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email comment directly to the EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit information electronically, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. Information on a CD ROM should be formatted as a MS Word, Rich Text or Adobe Acrobat PDF file. For additional information about EPA's public docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/dockets. Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at EPA Docket Center, EPA West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern), Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the ORD Docket is (202) 566-1752. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Lisa Matthews, Mail Code 8101R, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; via phone/voice mail at: (202) 564-6669; via fax at: (202) 565-2430; or via email at: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to public concern, the U.S. Congress urged EPA to conduct scientific research to examine the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water resources. EPA is undertaking a study to understand the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources, if any, and to identify the driving factors that may affect the severity and frequency of such impacts. The scope of the study includes the full hydraulic fracturing water lifecycle--from water acquisition, through the mixing of chemicals and injection of fracturing fluids, to the post-fracturing stage, including the management of flowback and produced water and its ultimate treatment and disposal. The study will include a review of the published literature, analysis of existing data, scenario evaluation and modeling, laboratory studies and case studies. To ensure that EPA is up-to-date on evolving hydraulic fracturing practices and technologies, EPA is soliciting public involvement in identifying relevant data and scientific literature specific to inform EPA's research study on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. While EPA conducts a thorough literature search, there may be studies or other primary technical sources that are not available through the open literature. EPA would appreciate receiving information from the public to help inform current and future research and ensure a robust record of scientific information. Consistent with our commitment to using the highest quality information, EPA prefers information which has been peer reviewed. Interested persons may provide scientific analyses, studies and other pertinent scientific information. EPA will consider all submissions but will give preference to peer reviewed data and literature sources. Dated: November 5, 2012. E. Ramona Trovato, Associate Assistant Administrator, Office of Research and Development. [FR Doc. 2012-27452 Filed 11-8-12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P Vol. 77, No. 218 [EPA-HQ-ORD-2010-0674; FRL-9750-8] Notices |