Tag Archives: loophole

It's official: the expansion of hydro-fracking operations is creating the biggest natural gas boom in US history… the film GASLAND explores this controversial method of extracting gas. (Don't know what hydro-fracking is yet? — Watch the trailer!) Oil and gas companies are going to start hydro-fracking operations to drill for gas in NY this year if the state's Dept of Environmental Conservation (DEC) approves the permits. The DEC needs to do the right thing: wait until the Environmental Protection Agency finishes a national study on the environmental impact of hydro-fracking in the next year or two. Hydro-fracking, despite polluting the groundwater in many documented cases across the US, isn't currently regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This loophole is unacceptable — and corrupt. It's known as the “Halliburton Loophole” because Dick Cheney (former Vice President and former CEO of Halliburton) requested the inclusion of the provision in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. “The Energy Policy Act of 2005 exempted hydraulic fracturing from federal regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Reports of ground water contamination have questioned whether the exemption is appropriate. A complete listing of the specific chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations are not currently made available to landowners, neighbors, local officials, or health care providers.” “The FRAC Act, introduced in June 2009, would eliminate the exemption and would require the disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing.” (wikipedia) Why are companies being allowed to push ahead with this dirty, dangerous form of drilling? If it's as safe as the corporations say it is, then why can't they wait for confirmation from the EPA? Check out and support a group, called Frack Action, that has formed to oppose hydro-fracking and urge its regulation! Their website is really great: www.FrackAction.com added by: captainplanet71