Today, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) joined with her colleague Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY) to reintroduce the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act (FRAC Act).

A hydraulic fracturing rig in Pennsylvania.
(Chris Jordan-Bloch / Earthjustice)

The bipartisan bill would establish safeguards protecting groundwater from risks associated with hydraulic fracturing, close a Bush-era oil and gas industry loophole in the Safe Drinking Water Act and require disclosure of chemicals used during the fracking process.

“We commend the bipartisan effort of Reps. DeGette and Gibson for this common-sense fix to a dangerous problem,” said Jessica Ennis, Earthjustice Legislative Representative. “By closing this loophole, the Safe Drinking Water Act will again be able to ensure that drinking water supplies will be protected from toxic fracking chemicals. Congress must follow the lead of Reps. DeGette and Gibson and pass the FRAC Act.”

“We thank Rep. DeGette for her efforts to address the risks posed from fracking,” added Michael Freeman, Staff Attorney at the Rocky Mountain Office of Earthjustice, located in Denver. “As recent events in Colorado have shown, irresponsible oil and gas development does pose a danger to our natural heritage and public health. The FRAC Act represents an important first step toward making oil and gas companies play by the same rules as everyone else.”