Ken Salazar Says He'll 'Fully Consider' Congressional Input On Fracking Regulations

Interior Secretary and former Colorado Senator Ken Salazar this week vowed to 'fully consider' congressional input as his department decides whether to toughen oversight over the controversial natural gas extraction method known as hydraulic fracturing. Salazar's promise comes as Colorado's representatives are leading the charge for tighter regulations.

Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, entails the high-pressure pumping of water and chemicals into the ground in order to free up natural gas for extraction. Environmentalists have long been critical of an exemption in the 2005 Safe Drinking Water Act that allows drilling companies to keep secret the chemicals used in the fracking process. The exemption has come to be known as the Halliburton Loophole, after the company that invented that invented fracking.

Salazar announced in November that the Interior Department was considering whether to change regulations to compel energy companies to disclose the contents of fracking chemicals.

Responding to concerns voiced by congressional Republicans this week, Salazar assured in a letter that, "[s]hould the Department move forward with disclosure requirements, which some in the industry have supported, we will do so in a fashion that fully considers public and Congressional concerns."

Meanwhile this week, Colorado representatives Diana DeGette and Jared Polis, both of whom have championed legislation to force disclosure of fracking fluid in the past, were among the 46 members of Congress to sign a letter to Salazar encouraging disclosure rules.

DeGette told KDVR that she also intends to reintroduce a bill that would enshrine similar disclosure rules as law, although the prospects for that legislation look grim in a GOP-controlled House.

Thanks to oil and gas regulations passed by the state legislature in 2009, Colorado is one of just 4 states that already requires energy companies to disclose chemicals used in the fracking process.

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Comments

[ThePeoriaKid]

09:23 AM on 01/19/2011

But mostly Ken will consider the oil & gas companies' contribution to his retirement fund....

Then he'll let them do as they please....

[The last sane American]

05:45 AM on 01/18/2011

"Ken Salazar Says He'll 'Fully Consider' Congressional Input On Fracking (Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation - where did the "K" come from?) Regulations " and totally disregard the 30 plus years of history or the informed comments of industry experts.

But then what else would you expect from an environmental Bureaucrat? His boss occasionally does not want to be confused with facts.

[esquilax]

07:01 AM on 01/18/2011

These particular techniques have not been used for "30 years".

Nor have they been used as indiscriminately.

[The last sane American]

08:25 AM on 01/18/2011

What about 70 years then?
"http://www.hydraulicfracturing.com/Pages/information.aspx?utm_source=OPM&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Paid_Search&gclid=CIm2mYztw6YCFYdi2godgAYsGA/Pages/information.aspx"

[The last sane American]

08:27 AM on 01/18/2011

PS if you mean by "particular techniques", combined with horizontal drilling, you are still incorrect

[MilesToGo]

12:45 PM on 01/18/2011

Yeah...industry "experts" that truly could care less about related or even ancillary negative effects of their drilling technologies regarding aquifers. But you needn't worry about Secretary Salazar's sentiments as an environmental bureaucrat. His industry credentials are sterling. Oil & Gas industry drill bits will continue to turn, and the injection of toxins into the ground will persist.

[The last sane American]

02:41 PM on 01/18/2011

Well away and in no way in communication with the shallow aquifers. (Would you run 2 MILES to find out how separated the gas reservoir and aquifer are separated?)

[esquilax]

09:20 PM on 01/17/2011

Frackin' needs a serious stomping until the implications/geological issues are understood.

Why is the USofA the new leader in environmental devastation???

[deathofcommonsense]

09:33 PM on 01/17/2011

shouldn't the same considerations be taken in regard to legislation on climate change??... until the science is understood? hmmmm....

[esquilax]

09:37 PM on 01/17/2011

Yeah, brilliant. Ironic user name you have there.

[The last sane American]

05:52 AM on 01/18/2011

This is another case study like AHCRA. We have been told that we do not understand the issues by people who do not want to understand the issues but just want to regulate. And why do they not understand the issues? Because if they took the time to get informed comment, they would find out that the states already have it regulated. They would also find out that the alleged impacts on the drinking water supply are practically non-existent. One rather shoddy propaganda movie.

[esquilax]

07:06 AM on 01/18/2011

I haven't seen the movie I'm guessing you're referring to.

I have concerns founded in geological science to do with ground water.

We have coal-seam gas and hydraulic fracturing going on in Australia resulting in unexpected outcomes into ground water, nearby and miles away.

Look to any of the desperate studies to reduce "leakoff" of the fracturing fluids to see that they are without control or understanding of where the fluids are going. The choices of location are poor in these cases.

[MilesToGo]

12:52 PM on 01/18/2011

I'm a former water well driller who understands the geology of aquifers & groundwater, as well as the practical technologies employed by the oil and gas industry. Your statement that the "alleged" impacts are "practically non-existent" is absurd and quite false.

[bbrecht]

02:42 PM on 01/17/2011

Why is Salazar still holding his office after the Gulf Oil spill fiasco? The man should be in jail.

[OkieMon]

02:00 PM on 01/17/2011

touting natural gas as a greener alternative to gasoline is a farce.....natural gas combustion emits the same amont of co2 as gasoline plus a similar spectrum of carcinogens....drilling for natural gas has a huge carbon footprint requiring thousands of diesel tanker trips to the well site delivering 4-7 million gallons of fresh water per frack...and a single well can be fracked up to ten times....plus huge amount of diesel used in fracking pumps for pressure and pressure stations for moving gas in pipelines....makes the carbon footprint of ethanol corn look like an ant hill by comparision....

[John Denton]

01:57 PM on 01/17/2011

He said he will listen to Republican complaints about disclosure of chemicals! Which means of course: give in to "bipartisanship" so that everyone will love Obama.

[ThinkCreeps]

11:56 AM on 01/17/2011

Of course he shout listen to voices in congress: the members of congress were paid very good money to raise those voices.

[MilesToGo]

11:41 AM on 01/17/2011

Secretary Salazar persuaded President Obama to allow virtually unrestricted off-shore oil drilling. The consequences of such policy are now well known. The ambiguity of asserting he will consider Congressional and public input should give Coloradans reason for concern that their groundwater will remain safe from oil & gas corporation toxins.

[aesop55]

08:36 PM on 01/17/2011

The article stated that Salazar would consider Congressional concerns. Everyone knows that the major concern that the Congress shares is campaign money for re-election - and there goes any consideration for the public welfare. Salazar should have never been put in the position he holds as he is in the hip pocket of mining and oil companies. He should be relieved of his duties post-haste.

[lightningbolt]

11:09 AM on 01/17/2011

Everyone needs to watch the movie Gasland.  It is one of the most terrifying documentaries you will ever see.  It explains in detail how the fracking process works and how much damage it does to the environment.  It also explains the politics behind the issue.  It's a very interesting movie that will leave you furious.

[lightningbolt]

11:07 AM on 01/17/2011

Cheney is the one responsible for giving the gas industry the exemption from the Safe Drinking Water Act.   As a result, he is directly responsible for poisoning people with dangerous chemicals.  He should be arrested for murder.

[ThinkCreeps]

11:57 AM on 01/17/2011

Add another count on Cheney's charge sheet, please, constable.

[lightningbolt]

12:52 PM on 01/17/2011

I wish somebody in law enforcement had the ballz to arrest Cheney.

[lightningbolt]

11:05 AM on 01/17/2011

The only advice we should be considering on this subject is the advice from scientists.  The fracking process is extremely damaging to the environment and to the health of the people living nearby.  People can even light their tap water on fire!

[lightningbolt]

11:04 AM on 01/17/2011

Has Salazar forgotten that Congress is in the pockets of the gas industry?  He's going to ask for input from the republicans?  Why?  They don't care about our health or the environment?

[mrpossumtail]

05:09 PM on 01/17/2011

One way to stop the madness is to persuade landowners not to lease land to these scutters. Well water in portions of NY, PA WV, AR will probably be destroyed forever as well as trout fishing.

[smalljaws]

03:46 AM on 01/18/2011

Not practical to persuade landowners not to lease when they're waving checks in front of their noses in amounts that are hard to refuse. For many its like winning the lottery once drilling commences and royalties are paid. Greed and economic insecurity will always overide environmental concerns. It's hard to say no to "Clampett" checks.

[hellboundtrain]

10:45 AM on 01/17/2011

I reject the notion that only chemicals that are the toxic nasties that are used in the fracking compounds that are currently used are the only options with which to get the job done. We need someone as a Sec. of the Interior or President to mandate that only non-toxic options will ever be used! Turn-back the Halliburton Loophole, ASAP!

Is there anybody up there that will stand for The People and the sanctity of this place we know as home?

Is there anybody in WA that will not willingly sacrifice all for some corporations' profit and campaign support?

[aligatorhardt]

07:39 AM on 01/17/2011

It is beyond reason that anyone could be allowed to introduce poisons into the drinking water. The excuse of "proprietary information" does not give anyone the right to poison water supplies. The disclosure of fracking fluids should be a strict requirement in getting permits to drill with no exceptions.

[1differentdrummer]

05:43 AM on 01/17/2011

Frack away. What the heck, we have all of the water in the world at our disposal, don't we? Who says CO is a dry state?