DENVER (AP) July 27, 2017 — A lawsuit contesting new rules for hydraulic fracturing on federal land will get its day in court even though President Donald Trump’s administration doesn’t intend to implement them.
Arguments will take place Thursday before the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.
The Trump administration first announced plans to roll back the rule, implemented by the Obama administration, in March.
The rule, which would require drilling companies to disclose what chemicals they’ve used for fracking, was put on hold last year after a Wyoming judge said the Bureau of Land Management had no authority to set such a rule.
The government would need to go through a series of legal processes before replacement, which includes receiving comment from the public. Replacement can take years.
Source: The Latest: Court asked to hold off on fracking rule
Ohio is one of the states that does not have rules requiring public disclosure of fracking chemicals. A federal rule would standardize disclosure of the chemicals nationally.
Local emergency officials and environmentalists argue that non-disclosure endangers public safety. The industry claims that the chemical blends are proprietary and argue against transparency.
OSBC supports transparency and disclosure of operations that affect a public resource, such as water, the health of which affects our entire economy.
Resources:
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Division of Oil & Gas Resources Management
Phone: 614.265.6933
E-mail: michael.brown@dnr.state.oh.us
Learn more:
Fracking Resources from Ohio Environmental Council
FracFocus Chemical Disclosure Registry
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