City Council acts to ban ‘fracking’ in water supply area
Source: Athens News
Date: 05/09/12
Athens City Council made several moves on Monday to further expressing its opposition to oil and gas drilling in sensitive areas, specifically the city's wellhead protection zone and the Wayne National Forest.
In a unanimous vote, City Council passed a resolution making certain amendments to the city's wellhead protection plan, including provisions banning the controversial horizontal hydraulic fracturing drilling technique in that area.
The likelihood of any company starting a "fracking" operation in the city are relatively small, but City Council members decided to include to take a stand anyway.
EPA Drafts Program for Using Diesel Fuel During Fracking
Source: Other News
Date: 05/09/12
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently released a draft underground injection control program permitting guidance for class II wells that use diesel fuels during hydraulic fracturing activities.
Reason
EPA developed the draft guidance to clarify how companies can comply with a law passed by Congress in 2005, which exempted hydraulic fracturing operations from the requirement to obtain a UIC permit, except in cases where diesel fuel is used as a fracturing fluid.
The draft guidance outlines for EPA permit writers, where EPA is the permitting authority, requirements for diesel fuels used for hydraulic fracturing wells, technical recommendations for permitting those wells, and a description of diesel fuels for EPA underground injection control permitting.
The draft guidance describes diesel fuels for these purposes by reference to six chemical abstract services registry numbers. The agency is requesting input on this description.
DeGette Calls Federal Fracking Rule ‘A Good First Step,’ But Warns Of ‘A Devil’s Bargain’
Source: The Colorado Independent
Date: 05/04/12
In a concession to the oil and gas industry, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar proposed a rule Friday that wouldn’t require the disclosure of hydraulic fracturing fluids until after the drilling of a well is completed.
U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., called the draft rule “a good first step” but said the “requirements for disclosure are seriously inadequate.” Initially, the Department of Interior proposed requiring companies to reveal the chemicals used in fracking before drilling commenced.
“We’re all seeking common-sense solutions to ensure the safety of natural gas production,” DeGette said, “but with all due respect, requiring disclosure after fracking has already occurred seems less common-sense and more ‘closing the door after the horse has left the barn.’