Approved by the Energy, Environment, and Water Policy Committee on May 22, 2025
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on June 4, 2025
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 10, 2025
Policy
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) actively promotes the use of good engineering and industry practices that protect public health, safety, water resources, and the environment during the exploration and production of oil and natural gas energy resources by means of hydraulic fracturing. ASCE recommends that current methods and regulations at all levels of government be reviewed, revised, or enhanced, as needed, to support:
- Implementation of cooperative state and federal monitoring and data collection programs to guide rulemaking and regulation, and the development of model state and local regulations that provide consistency in oversight while allowing for adaptation to regional geological and hydrological conditions.
- Promotion of research and studies on the human health, environmental, ecosystem, and water resources impacts associated with both surface and subsurface hydraulic fracturing activities.
- Safe and hydrologically sound acquisition of water used in the hydraulic fracturing process, and encouraging the use of alternative water sources, such as brackish water or treated produced water, to reduce reliance on freshwater sources.
- Determination of the cumulative impact of multiple drilling operations within a single groundwater basin or watershed.
- Development of best practices, regulations, and well construction standards informed by independent scientific advisory committees representing a range of stakeholders.
- Use and decommissioning standards to protect sources of drinking water and to prevent methane loss to the atmosphere.
- Establishment of clear standards for well site closure, land restoration, and long-term monitoring, including financial assurances for post-closure activities.
- Promotion of consistent disclosure of all chemical additives used in fracturing fluids, with limited exceptions for verified proprietary compounds under regulatory oversight.
- Reduction of the freshwater consumed for each fracturing operation through reuse of the flowback fluid.
- Effective collection, treatment, and disposal of used fracturing fluids, flowback fluids, stormwater runoff, and produced waters.
- Ensuring adequate stormwater management systems are in place to control runoff from well pads, chemical storage areas, and access roads.
- Requiring baseline and post-operation monitoring of groundwater, surface water, and air quality to detect contamination and inform mitigation strategies.
- Programs and policies that encourage the treatment and distribution of produced water for non-potable purposes.
Issue
Hydraulic fracturing, combined with horizontal drilling, has significantly expanded domestic oil and gas production. While it offers economic and energy benefits, it also raises concerns about water use, groundwater contamination, air emissions, induced seismicity, and site restoration.
The process often involves large volumes of water and chemicals, which if improperly managed, can impact water quality. Methane emissions and volatile organic compounds from well operations contribute to air quality and greenhouse gas concerns. In some regions, wastewater injection has been linked to increased seismic activity.
Public concern has also increased around chemical transparency, regional water scarcity, and long-term environmental footprint of well sites. Variability in state-level regulations has resulted in inconsistent oversight and protection standards. These challenges underscore the importance of coordinated science-based policies and engineering practices that ensure environmental protection, regulatory clarity, and public trust in the responsible use of hydraulic fracturing technologies.
Rationale
There is a need for improved pre- and post-hydraulic fracturing monitoring and reporting, required disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing and additional research regarding the impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources and human health.
Due to the potential hazards to the environment and public health from hydraulic fracturing, increased regulation and oversight is needed. However, given the regional variability of site conditions and operations associated with these activities by state and areas within a state, greater efforts are needed towards developing a coordinated regulatory program for these activities.
Civil engineers are essential to developing and applying best practices that improve well integrity, reduce freshwater use, ensure safe handling of fluids, and support long-term site management. ASCE supports the use of sound engineering, transparent reporting, and consistent regulations to guide responsible hydraulic fracturing throughout the full lifecycle of operations.
This policy has worldwide application
ASCE Policy Statement 539
First Approved in 2012