The misleading headline does not indicate that there is evidence that fracking has already contaminated aquifers. Such evidence must exist to motivate the regulatory agency to take such action, and it would be useful to know the details of the evidence from the 100 aquifers that were exempted by law from environmental protection. There are so many hedged statements in this report which suggests to me that there is an attempt at a coverup.
The problem is that at least 100 of the state's aquifers were presumed to be useless for drinking and farming because the water was either of poor quality, or too deep underground to easily access. Years ago, the state exempted them from environmental protection and allowed the oil and gas industry to intentionally pollute them. But not all aquifers are exempted, and the system amounts to a patchwork of protected and unprotected water resources deep underground. Now, according to the cease and desist orders issued by the state, it appears that at least seven injection wells are likely pumping waste into fresh water aquifers protected by the law, and not other aquifers sacrificed by the state long ago.
