COGA Fact Sheet: PFAS Misinformation
Background: Sierra Club Report
The Sierra Club supported an “analysis” produced by another anti-fracking group called Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR). The analysis, titled “Fracking with ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Colorado” insinuates that PFAS is being used in Colorado hydraulic fracturing operations and that companies that fail to disclose trade secrets or proprietary information might be hiding other uses of PFAS without evidence.
The Sierra Club and PSR are committed to stopping fracking, and thus oil and natural gas development, in Colorado and the United States, recommending that decision makers, “Limit or ban drilling and fracking” based on conclusion drawn from their “report”. The report fails to identify actual PFAS from operators who disclose the chemicals used on their locations via FracFocus.org, a website run by the Groundwater Protection Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC).
Report Errors and Discrepancies
Report’s authors (who are not physicians despite inferring as much in the name) analysis is based on the identification of PTFE in the FracFocus registry, however as the Colorado Public Radio correctly reports, “PTFE is considered a stable compound that presents little risk under normal conditions.” The authors state that PTFE could breakdown into PFAS as a result of the fracking process but fail to confirm this important insinuation.
Without evidence, the authors claim these chemicals used as part of the energy development process pose a risk to Colorado’s water supply. But the Colorado Water Quality Control division says it has no evidence this has occurred. According to a response to
The Denver Post, “The state Water Quality Control Division isn’t aware of any impact to drinking water from PFAS potentially used in fracking, spokeswoman Erin Garcia said. The division sampled 400 water systems in 2020 for PFAS and none of the water tested above the federal advisory level, she said in an email.
PFAS & Surfactants Facts
Additionally. the purchase of PFAS is no longer permitted in Colorado, and two important bills were passed in 2020 that gave resources to the state to better understand when and where PFAS is used. HB 1119 expanded the state’s authority to regulate PFAS, including the establishment of a registration program to make sure existing PFAS products are clearly identified and tracked. And, SB 218 established a new fee of $25 per truckload for every manufacturer of fuel products, with funds going to support PFAS oversight and a PFAS buyback program.
Additional Resources & Information
Center for Disease Control and Prevention – PFAS Fact Sheet | www.cdc.gov
FracFocus | www.fracfocus.org
Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment | www.colorado.gov/cdphe
