The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a draft of its report Investigation of Ground Water Contamination near Pavillion, Wyoming for public comment and independent scientific peer-review. The draft report indicates that ground water in the aquifer contains compounds likely associated with gas production practices, including hydraulic fracturing.

At the request of Pavillion residents, the EPA began investigating water quality concerns in private drinking water wells three years ago. Since that time, in conjunction with the state of Wyoming, the local community, and the owner of the gas field, Encana, the EPA has been working to assess ground water quality and identify potential sources of contamination.

The draft report will be available for a public-comment period beginning December 14. A subsequent 30-day peer-review process will be led by a panel of independent scientists.

EPA extended the public comment period and delayed peer review to consider additional sampling, as announced on March 8th 2012.

Read related information on the EPA website.