{"id":6666,"date":"2012-05-04T14:49:32","date_gmt":"2012-05-04T22:49:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blitransfer.wpengine.com\/?p=6666"},"modified":"2017-06-21T14:19:51","modified_gmt":"2017-06-21T19:19:51","slug":"department-of-interior-releases-draft-fracking-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluelivingideas.com\/2012\/05\/04\/department-of-interior-releases-draft-fracking-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Department of Interior Releases Draft Fracking Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/p>\n Today the U.S. Department of the Interior released draft rules governing hydraulic fracturing<\/a>, also called fracking. The new rule covers federal lands and Indian lands.<\/p>\n The draft rule has three main requirements:<\/p>\n 1)\u00a0 Drilling companies must publicly disclose the chemicals used in fracking on public and Indian lands.<\/strong> The disclosure would occur after fracking operations have been completed. Having records of what chemicals were injected into the rock will allow later tracking of any contamination.<\/p>\n Drilling companies had been concerned that disclosing the fracking chemicals before drilling would delay the permitting process. This concession will allay those fears.<\/p>\n Several states already require companies to post a list of their chemicals<\/a> to an online database, FracFocus<\/a>, which is available to the public. Companies drilling on public and Indian lands might use the same site.<\/p>\n 2)\u00a0 Before fracking, drilling companies will need to submit information showing they have tested the well and the cement casing has shown sufficient integrity to withstand fracking pressures.<\/strong>\u00a0 Testing the well is standard procedure with most companies and should not be a problem.<\/p>\n 3)\u00a0 A water management plan will be required.<\/strong> During fracking, some of the water and chemicals injected into the ground comes back up through the well. This water will be stored in enclosed tanks or in lined pits.<\/p>\n Many drilling companies already follow the required procedures and keep the necessary documentation. The new rule was designed to be in accord with state regulations already in existence.<\/p>\n The rule applies to all \u201cusable water’, which is not limited to fresh water, but includes water used for industrial and agricultural purposes.<\/p>\n The additional costs of the regulation is estimated at approximately $15,000 per well, or 0.3% of the cost of a well.<\/p>\n The Department of the Interior will accept public comments for sixty days before issuing the final rule.<\/p>\n