RED ALERT! The Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission
is Urging Congress Not to Remove Exemption of
Hydraulic Fracturing
from Provisions Of The Safe Drinking Water Act
WE NEED TO SPEAK LOUDER THAN THEY DO!
Text of H.R. 7231 [110th]: To repeal the exemption for hydraulic fracturing in the Safe Drinking Water Act...
This version: Introduced in House. This is the original text of the bill as it was written by its sponsor and submitted to the House for consideration. This is the latest version of the bill available on this website.
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7231
To repeal the exemption for hydraulic fracturing in the Safe Drinking Water Act, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 29, 2008
Ms. DEGETTE (for herself, Mr. HINCHEY, and Mr. SALAZAR) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To repeal the exemption for hydraulic fracturing in the Safe Drinking Water Act, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REGULATION OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING.
Section 1421(d)(1) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300h(d)(1)) is amended by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting:
‘(B) includes the underground injection of fluids or propping agents pursuant to hydraulic fracturing operations related to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities; but
‘(C) excludes the underground injection of natural gas for purposes of storage.’.
Introduced Sept. 29, 2008 by Rep. Diana DeGette [D-CO], this bill never became law. This bill was proposed in a previous session of Congress. Sessions of Congress last two years, and at the end of each session all proposed bills and resolutions that haven't passed are cleared from the books. Members often reintroduce bills that did not come up for debate under a new number in the next session.
Congress will next meet on Mar 30, 2009.
Posts
HR 7231- Will it be debated tomorrow 3/30? I would love to see the SDWA apply to everyone, including the gas industry, once again. I don't understand the part about excluding the underground injection of natural gas for purposes of storage. What does that mean?
ReplyDeletePeacegirl,
ReplyDeleteI think it means the gas industry and the Bush Administration dealt a deadly blow to thousands of American citizens across the country!!! While that is a reality as well, underground injection for storage means the following: Due to the fact that demand for natural gas during certain times of the year (mainly the winter months)is greater than production, it is necessary for the natural gas transmission companies to store gas in underground caverns. These caverns can be old depleted gas fields or even salt caverns carved out for the sole purposes of storing natural gas. During the summer months the natural gas transmission companies compress the gas and force it into these storage caverns for periods of high demand. Traditionally, production was in the south and demand in the northeast. Due to increasing demand and limited transmission pipeline capacity, storage is necessary to meet winter demand. Tennessee gas pipeline's newest gas storage field in New York state (circa 2003) is the Stage Coach pump compression station located outside Owego, NY.
For anyone else reading the blog, some excerpts from HR 7231 listed below.
The Safe Drinking Water Act rules that "underground injection" endangers drinking water sources, but, as amended by the 2005 Energy Policy Act, excludes hydraulic fracturing from the definition of "underground injection." The relevant section of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300h(d)(1)) reads as follows:
(d) "Underground injection" defined; underground injection endangerment of drinking water sources For purposes of this part:
(1) Underground injection.- The term "underground injection"-
(A) means the subsurface emplacement of fluids by well injection; and
(B) excludes-
(i) the underground injection of natural gas for purposes of storage; and
(ii) the underground injection of fluids or propping agents (other than diesel fuels) pursuant to hydraulic fracturing operations related to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities.
I called today: Christopher Lee, Congressman NY 26th District. I hope he votes to repeal the exemption.
ReplyDeletethank you peacegirl.
ReplyDeleteIt was painless! I wish more people would get in the habit of calling congressional reps and senators. I have been told over and over by congressional staff people that even ten calls on a given issue make a big difference. It reminds the Congress that someone is paying attention to what it is doing.
ReplyDeleteI write and call them all the time. But, I don't have much to work with.
ReplyDeleteMy US Senators are Hutchinson and Cornyn. I'm so sorry. =(
My US Representative is Kay Granger and she never met a dirty oil that she didn't love.
I apologize for Texas.
I lived in VA for 40 years, so I know what it is to apologize for my state! But just as we were getting ready to move to NY, things began to change. We got Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. And Jim Webb and Mark Warner again.
ReplyDeleteDone deal. I sent my representative an EMAIL via his website. Email below.
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Carney,
I strongly urge you to support House Bill 7231 introduced in the last session of Congress. This bill removes the exemption the gas industry currently enjoys from the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Act would be amended as follows:
SECTION 1. REGULATION OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING.
Section 1421(d)(1) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300h(d)(1)) is amended by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting:
‘(B) includes the underground injection of fluids or propping agents pursuant to hydraulic fracturing operations related to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities; but
‘(C) excludes the underground injection of natural gas for purposes of storage.’.
Please support this bill. If the gas industry's process of hydro fracturing shale to stimulate gas production is as safe as they say it is, there should be no issue amending the act to hold the industry accountable and protect your constituents water supply.
I would like to know where you stand on this issue. Please respond in writing. Thanks for your attention to this all important matter.