A report released by the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States earlier this month on hydraulic fracturing has come out in support of the oil and gas industry.

The report concludes the extraction process has “not led to widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water.” Having said that, it is also acknowledged there’s plenty of opportunities for errors that could lead to contamination.

The report makes clear, the risks are complicated, and they vary with the specifics of the local geology and other local conditions. There are, however, some simple practices that could further minimize the risk of contamination if universally adopted.

Fracking has grown in popularity in the oil industry in recent years, but it’s also set off a political firestorm across North America.

(Source: Ars Technica)