Pavillion, Wyoming

For years, activists have tried to make Pavillion, Wyo., a focal point in their claims of alleged groundwater contamination from hydraulic fracturing in the region. But independent investigations from federal and state agencies – some dating back to the 1960s – show that not only is hydraulic fracturing an unlikely cause of elevated compounds in the region’s groundwater, but many of these issues pre-date oil and natural gas development. In fact, in its 2019 report, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality determined that naturally occurring materials – not oil and natural gas operations – are the most likely cause of the issues.