Polis Statement On EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study

Statement

Polis Statement On EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study

Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) released the following statement today in response to the commencement of the first phases of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s research study to investigate the potential adverse impact that hydraulic fracturing may have on water quality and public health.

"I applaud the EPA's announcement to actively study the effects of hydraulic fracturing on our nation's water supply. This is an issue that affects communities in my district in Colorado and nationwide, and deserves a full-faith effort to uncover the truth and report the facts, unlike the shoddy, special interest-reliant study conducted under the previous administration. As we grow our new, clean energy economy--in which natural gas plays a key role--we must insure that we do so in a responsible manner with careful oversight, so we do not run the risk of dangerous chemicals polluting our water sources and endangering public health."

Polis, along with Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), authored H.R. 2766 -- The Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act, which would close the loophole that exempted hydraulic fracturing from the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and require the oil and gas industry to disclose the chemicals they use in their hydraulic fracturing processes. Currently, the oil and gas industry is the only industry granted an exemption from complying with the SDWA.

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