News
Fracking Debate Moves To Washington
By: Associated Press
Posted on:
State regulators and congressional leaders say individual states are best suited to oversee how wastewater from natural gas fracturing operations is handled.
They say federal interference could hamper the booming energy industry in several states.
At a meeting Wednesday of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment in Washington, members expressed concern over a plan by the Environmental Protection Agency for new regulations on wastewater from hydraulic fracturing. Also known as "fracking," the technique involves pumping water, chemicals and sand underground to break up oil-bearing rock.
The EPA announced last month its plans to develop treatment standards for fracking wastewater before it can be sent to treatment plants.
Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Bob Gibbs of Ohio says he's concerned the new guidelines will be "needlessly restrictive."