Today PAI released an analysis of the University at Buffalo Shale Resources and Society Institute report “Environmental Impacts During Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling.” The UB report claimed that fracking is becoming less environmentally risky, based on a review of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection inspections data. We found that data in the report said just the opposite; that the risk of major environmental accidents had actually increased during the period studied. The report’s methodology was also highly questionable (including the decision to copy entire passages from a pro-fracking Manhattan Institute report).
We also found that the UB report’s authors have extensive ties to the natural gas industry, which might have something to do with their remarkably sunny conclusions about the safety of fracking.
Click here for the full report.
Buffalo News and Artvoice are up with coverage of our study and more is on the way.