Texas Fracking Disclosure to Start in February
Rules requiring disclosure of many chemicals used in the controversial process of hydraulic fracturing will take effect in Texas in February, oil and gas regulators decided on Tuesday.
The three members of the Texas Railroad Commission unanimously approved the new rules, which implement a law Texas passed in May requiring disclosure of the chemicals on a public website, fracfocus.org.
"With this new rule, Texans will know more about what is going in the ground for energy production than about the ingredients that go into their sodas,” Elizabeth Ames Jones, the commission's chair, said in a statement.
Fracking involves ...
Comments (4)
Jack Ament
Good story....but, the graphic is VERY misleading. I know it's picky, but it can give those without knowledge the wrong perception. In South Texas, where most of the fracking is occuring in this state, the frac zone is 2-3 MILES below the deepest domestic water zone.....not right below the water table as the graphic indicates. I know it's for illustration purposes only, but still.......
ChicoMendez
For a more grassroots perspective on what this regulation does and does not do, please see:
http://www.texassharon.com/2011/12/13/the-truth-about-the-texas-fracking-disclosure-rules-released-by-the-texas-railroad-commission/
EyesOfTX
Just so everyone knows, the website linked by Chico is run by a well-known crackpot who possesses absolutely knowledge of this subject matter. Her ability to make a living depends on the perpetuation of continual conflict in this realm, and she can never be satisfied on this subject.
The Texas legislature and the Railroad Commission deserve high praise for leading the nation on this disclosure effort. While Colorado may have gotten its rule done "first", the reality is that Colorado is just one of 10 states that began a rulemaking process related to disclosure in response to the passage of HB 3328 in May by the Texas legislature. That's the truth, and you'll never hear it from Chico or Texas Sharon.
Enviro-Equipment Inc
I was under the impression that oil/gas drilling companies already had to disclose the chemicals used in the frac water they use, at least according to the website "fracfocus.org".