EPA: Fracking not hazardous

The EPA presents its evaluation of impacts to underground drinking water from hydraulic fracturing of coal bed methane reservoirs, including a literature survey and incidents of well contamination.  The agency reports that it finds little or no threat to drinking water from fracking, although in some cases the use of diesel fuel has led to the direct contamination of ground water with toluene, benzene, ethylbenzene and xylene.  Three companies, who do about 95% of the fracking in the United States, have voluntarily agreed to stop using diesel fuel, according to the EPA.