Abstract

HATCH KURI, Gonzalo. Fracking in the Edwards-Trinity-El Burro Transboundary Aquifer: Implications and Transboundary Environmental Damage. Invest. Geog [online]. 2018, n.96. ISSN 2448-7279.  https://doi.org/10.14350/rig.59570.

In Mexico, the Secretariat of Energy (SENER), through the National Hydrocarbons Commission, planned the immediate extraction of shale gas using the controversial fracking process in the border area of the State of Coahuila, neighboring the U.S. State of Texas. The main water supply for this economic activity will likely be groundwater from the Edwards-Trinity-El Burro Transboundary Aquifer System, shared by Mexico and the United States, as the surface water of the Rio Bravo basin is already committed according to the 1994 Binational Treaty on Water. The scientific literature suggests the existence of huge information gaps about this aquifer regarding geological, technical, social and environmental subjects, especially on the systemic functioning of the underground water circulating through the aquifer. According to the assessment methodology of Transboundary Aquifers of ISARM/Americas published by UNESCO (2015), this work carried out a baseline diagnosis and evaluation of information related to the Edwards-Trinity-El Burro Transboundary Aquifer System, previously identified by UNESCO. This aims to demonstrate that fracking has been barely studied in relation to the perspective and management of transboundary groundwater flows, considering the demand of water involved in fracking, and also bearing in mind that the hydrogeological unit involved, is an international water course subject to international regulations. In addition, we conducted a comparative analysis of the existing legal and institutional frameworks between Texas and Mexico on groundwater protection and conservation in relation tofracking. This revealed significant asymmetries in the approaches to manage environmental damages derived from fracking, as well as in the knowledge, assessment and management of these shared water courses.

The main findings of this research reveal little knowledge of and interest on a systemic assessment of transboundary aquifers in Mexico; consequently, there is a lack of a joint approach for the prevention and control of transboundary environmental damages associated with fracking. In this case study, information gaps were unveiled related to the geometry of the aquifer (3D-view), the hydrogeological functioning of the system, the characterization of groundwater systems, the definition and monitoring of key water quality indicators, the georeferencing of wells and springs, and the characterization of the human population and economic activities that depend on groundwater located in the Transboundary Aquifer. This in turn translates into the absence of a joint approach seeking effective prevention and management of transboundary environmental damages arising from groundwater fracking; therefore, this activity should be prohibited for being highly polluting, based on two environmental principles: the obligation not to cause significant harm, and the precautionary principle. The former has been established in international conventions and guidelines for the management of transboundary waters; the latter, in international documents that guide environmental protection and conservation.

Keywords : Fracking; Transboundary Aquifers; Shale gas; environmental; groundwater.

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