Last year, the EPA refused to rule that hydraulic fracturing -- better known as fracking -- did "widespread, systematic" harm to America's drinking water supplies.
On Tuesday, a new EPA report reversed that finding, saying that fracking poses a risk to drinking water in certain circumstances, but a lack of information prevented the agency from saying how severe that impact might be.
The EPA's reversal is significant -- a pro-fossil fuel Trump administration will take charge in weeks.
With fracking, water, sand and chemicals are pumped into the ground at high pressure, breaking shale rock to release natural gas and petroleum. Potential problems include chemical spills, faulty machinery and seepage.
It is beyond absurd for the administration to reverse course on its way out the door.
Some in the oil industry, who interpreted the initial report as evidence that fracking was safe, were outraged at the new report.
Pro-oil group Energy In Depth still found good news in the report, saying it refuted the claim that fracking is contaminating groundwater nationwide.
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump's newly named Secretary of State pick, Rex Tillerson, is suing to stop construction of a water tower used for fracking near his Texas mansion, The Nation reports.
Five-year @EPA study confirms that #fracking contaminates drinking water https://t.co/ds5XIzbzYf Now officials need to help affected people
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) December 13, 2016
Some critics of fracking, including Mark Ruffalo, rejoiced at the report.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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