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New Law Aimed At Fracking Industry Takes Effect

By KGNS News

Story Created: Feb 1, 2012 at 6:21 PM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 2, 2012

A new state law taking affect today targets the fracking industry requiring companies to disclose exactly what chemicals are being used in the process on a public website.
But some people say the law is just not enough to safeguard the public and say there are many loopholes that companies can take advantage of.
Our Annette Garcia has the story.
A new state law taking effect February 1st, forcing companies to disclose exactly what chemicals they're using at wells across South Texas.
The new law passed by the Texas Legislature and Texas Railroad Commission not only requires disclosure of chemicals but also the volume of water being used at projects.
The information is all to be listed on the public website fracfocus.org.
“The regulation and transparency that is being offered at this point is good.”
Commissioner Jaime Canales, who serves on a board to oversee activity of Eagle Ford Shale says the new law is a good move that he says will put people more at ease about what's being done in South Texas.
“I think its very important that they’re aware especially the land owners that are interested in what is injected into their own territory.”
“It’s a good first step but nobody should be fooled.”
Environmentalists in Webb County say the Texas law is better than in some other states but there are loopholes that keep the public from getting the full story.
“Right now the way that the law stands is that if a certain company says a chemical is a trade secret that does not have to be disclosed.”
The only people who can challenge that she says are landowners or someone living adjacent to that property.
She says that’s not enough.
“This will affect everybody its not just in one isolated little place.”
“We do need full public disclosure and so it’s a good first step but we've got a ways to go.”
Texas is one of a handful of states that has moved forward with disclosure laws.
Cortez says what the country really needs is federal fracking standards and regulations set by the EPA.
That way, she says, there's a clear set of rules for everyone in every state.