Two years after four House Democrats launched an effort to get support for what they called their “Frack Pack” legislation targeting the oil and gas industry, they unveiled a new version on Tuesday.
The package of five bills focused on tightening the rules around fracking and was introduced by Reps. Diana DeGette of Colorado, Yvette Clarke of New York, Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania and Jan Schakowsky of Illinois.
Their bills would bar the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating fluids used in fracking under the Safe Water Drinking Act.
New Jersey Congressman Albio Sires supported their efforts saying the “Frack Pack Acts” would close loopholes in regulations that he charged allowed for environmental contamination from the oil and gas industry.
He claimed it would require oil and gas companies to report on the impact their fracking activity has on water quality. However, companies already participate in FracFocus, the national hydraulic fracturing chemical registry managed by the Ground Water Protection Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission.