There Harris Goes Again

TAndy Harris threw reporters and a documentary maker out of his public congressional oversight hearing on natural gas fracking, and then claimed that the Environmental Protection Agency was offering “junk science.” He complained that the EPA neglected to consult state and local experts, and implied that the EPA might not have shared information were it not for his hearing.

The facts do not support his claims. The EPA provided 622 documents of preliminary findings related to hydraulic fracking in Pavillion, Wyoming. The findings are not complete. The EPA is still waiting for hundreds water samples from Encana Corporation. Their current findings are a first step that will be followed by a period of public comment and peer review by independent scientists.

The last thing we need is more prejudicial rhetoric. President Obama has endorsed safe natural gas production, and President Theodore Roosevelt would likely have concurred. He also believed that while it is our right to develop and use natural resources, it is not our right to deprive our citizens and future generations of clean water and a safe environment.

Taking time to insure that an aquifer that serves eight states and supports over $20 billion in agricultural activity remains viable is a worthwhile endeavor.