The Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday a schedule for the development of new standards to regulate the disposal and handling of wastewater generated by the practice of hydrofracking for natural gas. No comprehensive set of national standards exists at this time for the disposal of wastewater discharged from natural gas extraction activities, and over the coming months EPA will begin the process of developing a proposed standard with the input of stakeholders, including industry and public health groups. Today’s announcement is in line with the priorities identified in the president’s Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future, and is consistent with the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board recommendations on steps to support the safe development of natural gas resources… Currently, wastewater associated with shale gas extraction is prohibited from being directly discharged to waterways and other waters of the U.S.