Hinchey, 45 Other Members Push Frack Chemical Disclosure Bill

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Washington, DC (WBNG Binghamton) Congressman Maurice Hinchey and 45 other members of the U.S. House of Representatives are pushing a bill that would require energy companies to disclose what chemicals are used in the Hydrofracking process.

Originally printed at http://www.wbng.com/news/local/Hinchey-45-Other-Members-Push-Frack-Chemical-Disclosure-Bill-113473954.html

By Darren Dodge
January 13, 2011

Washington, DC (WBNG Binghamton) Congressman Maurice Hinchey and 45 other members of the U.S. House of Representatives are pushing a bill that would require energy companies to disclose what chemicals are used in the Hydrofracking process.

The bill would require full disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing in wells on publicly owned land.

In a letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, the group says disclosing the chemicals used is critical to making energy companies more transparent, and protecting the water supplies.

"When big energy companies decide they want to drill on public lands, they should have to tell the public exactly what chemicals they're pumping into the ground," says Hinchey. "We already know of several carcinogens and neurotoxins that are used in drilling process. If the industry had their way, we wouldn't find out about the other chemicals being used until they show up in the water supply. The people have a right to know what is being done to their land and what risks that may carry."

Onshore gas wells on publicly owned lands produce 11% of the nation's natural gas supply.

The Fracking Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act would close a loophole in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which exempts fracking from regulation through the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Hinchey is also the author of the provision which led to the initiation of an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study on the risks posed to drinking water through the fracking process.
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