DeGette Statement on Department of Energy Hydraulic Fracturing Report

Statement

As the author of the FRAC Act (Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act) and the leading House voice on responsible hydraulic fracturing, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1) today issued the following statement in response to the Department of Energy's Natural Gas Subcommittee report on improving the safety of fracking.

"I am extremely encouraged that the Subcommittee's findings strongly support the reasonable and common-sense regulations I have set forth in the FRAC Act. I am particularly pleased with their call for mandatory disclosure regulations to enable the public to discover the specific chemicals injected into the ground in their communities. I have long believed that public disclosure of the chemicals in fracking fluid is a fundamental step we can take to safeguard the drinking water of families living near fracking wells. As the report notes, there is "no economic or technical reason' not to do so.

"Over the past several months, my Committee has revealed extensive evidence of the use of diesel fuel in fracking projects across the nation. This report's recommendation to cease use of diesel at all is a welcome development as we strive to make the fracking process safer. To that end, I look forward to working with the department on our most recent request, to develop a definition of "diesel fuel' that better protects the health of our families.

"Lastly, I support their call to develop best practices for casing and cementing jobs in fracking operations. Last year's BP spill in the Gulf has been largely attributed to faulty casing and cementing, and, as I have repeatedly warned, the consequences of a similar tragedy in an onshore well could be even more catastrophic.

"The FRAC Act I have introduced is consistent with many of this report's recommendations, including providing for common-sense safeguards like required disclosure of the chemicals used in the fracking process. As always, I strongly believe natural gas is an important economic driver -- particularly for my state of Colorado -- and a critical bridge fuel, but we must ensure the process for extracting it is done safely and responsibly. Moving forward I hope the Department works more closely, not only with EPA and Interior, but also with those of us in Congress working towards our shared goals."

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