Fracing Fight Continues

By Andrew S. and Pat C.

In 2005, Congress passed an Energy Policy Act that exempted natural gas companies from making a public disclosure of the chemical components used in hydraulic fracing fluid. Last month, Congressman Maurice Hinchey of New York attempted to overturn this legislation by inviting the EPA to review the effects fracing fluid has had on the environment.

Jeff Lieberson, Hinchey’s Communications Director, said, “The EPA administrator indicated an interest in reviewing gas drilling but there’s been no official word.”

Hinchey however, has continued to push the issue. This month he introduced the Fracking Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act.

The FRAC Act, was presented to the House of Representatives and the United States Senate on June 9 by Congressman Hinchey, Congresswoman Diana DeGette of Colo., Congressman Jared Polis of Colo., and U.S. Senator Bob Casey of Pa.

Speaking of the act, Hinchey said, “It’s time to fix an unfortunate chapter in the Bush administration’s energy policy and close the ‘Halliburton loophole’ that has enabled energy companies to pump enormous amounts of toxins, such as benzene and toluene, into the ground that then jeopardize the quality of our drinking water.”

Although the bill was introduced, Lieberson told The Family Times that, “It is unclear what the possible timeline could be before a decision is made.” There are several steps that the act will have to undergo before it can be voted on by Congress.

Hinchey and his colleagues are against the idea of compromising the safety of public and private drinking water.

According to an article in the Sullivan County Democrat, Planning Commissioner Bill Pammer of Monticello received approval from county legislators for his recommendation that the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) prohibit gas drilling in 100-year and 500-year floodplains.

Local groups that are opposed to natural gas drilling, such as the Damascus Citizens for Sustainability (DCS), were encouraged by both Hinchey and Pammer’s efforts to prevent the possible hazards of drilling.