The Obama administration said Friday it will require companies drilling for oil and natural gas on public and Indian lands to publicly disclose chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations.
The proposed “fracking” rules also set standards for proper construction of wells and wastewater disposal. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the long-awaited rules will allow expansion of drilling while protecting health and safety. The new rules, under consideration for a year and a half, were softened after industry groups expressed concerns about an initial proposal.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.