EPA is committed to stakeholder outreach and engagement in its study of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas on drinking water resources. This includes:

• Clearly informing the public of the study's goals, design and progress
• Obtaining timely and constructive technical feedback
• Taking advantage of relevant expertise and peer-reviewed data
• Keeping abreast of changes in industry practices and technologies that may be relevant to the study.

Building on a robust program of stakeholder engagement, EPA has taken several steps to implement these goals to ensure the study has had access to relevant data and provides continued opportunities for stakeholder engagement:

• Periodic roundtables with invited experts
• Federal Register Notice requesting public input
• Technical workshops
• More frequent study updates through informal outreach opportunities

Finally, EPA has designated the study as a highly influential scientific assessment for purposes of applying Agency peer review guidelines. In March 2013, the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) formed an ad hoc panel of independent experts to consult periodically on the study's progress and the final report providing advice to the Administrator through the Chartered SAB. The public will have opportunities to provide comment to the SAB panel as well.