03/29/12 09:36 AM ET
Senior Senate Republicans are floating legislation that would slam the brakes on Obama administration efforts to expand regulation of the controversial oil-and-gas drilling method called “hydraulic fracturing” on federal lands.
Sen. James Inhofe (Okla.), the ranking Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, is the lead sponsor, and the seven other backers include Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), the top GOP member on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
The bill is unlikely to advance but will provide Republicans another rallying point for allegations that President Obama’s Interior Department and Environmental Protection Agency have an overzealous agenda that will stymie development.
The bill introduced Wednesday requires that only states may regulate hydraulic fracturing — or “fracking” —– on federal lands within their borders.
“States better understand their unique geologies and interests,” Inhofe said when introducing the measure.
The bill introduced Wednesday requires that only states may regulate hydraulic fracturing — or “fracking” —– on federal lands within their borders.
“States better understand their unique geologies and interests,” Inhofe said when introducing the measure.
Fracking involves high-pressure injections of water, chemicals and sand into rock formations to open up seams that enable trapped gas to flow.
The bill arrives ahead of a planned Interior Department proposal that would require disclosure of chemical ingredients used in fracking on public lands, and also create new requirements regarding well integrity and wastewater management.
The bill arrives ahead of a planned Interior Department proposal that would require disclosure of chemical ingredients used in fracking on public lands, and also create new requirements regarding well integrity and wastewater management.
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To think that each state can 'regulate' its own rules that are supposed to prevent adverse impacts from the fracking industry is ludacris! What's to regulate when they are Federally exempt? To remove local governance from cities and counties only creates a fascist, iron-fist for the oil and gas Governors to continue to play 'back-door Romeo' with the industry. If America is an immoral environment, it is because the government has no regulations that mitigate special interest and kick-backs to politicians from the Oligarchy. Get it yet?
Well said!!!
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