EPA Justifies Proposed Shale Gas ELG Due To Potential POTW Discharges

EPA, in its just-released proposed first-time zero discharge effluent limitation guideline (ELG) for oil and natural gas wastewater, says the rule is necessary due to the potential that future shale facilities could send their wastewater to publicly owned treatment works (POTWs), though the agency notes no such discharges are yet occurring. “[B]ecause onshore unconventional oil and gas extraction facilities have discharged to POTWs in the past, and because the potential remains that some facilities can consider discharging to POTWs in...