White House begins gas ‘fracking’ rule review

The White House Office of Management and Budget has begun vetting upcoming Interior Department rules that will toughen regulation of the controversial natural-gas drilling method called hydraulic fracturing.

Interior’s rules are already under fire from GOP lawmakers who allege the plans — which President Obama touted in his State of the Union address — will slow development.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has promised that the rules, which will govern “fracking” on public lands, will be proposed very shortly.

Interior sent the proposal that requires disclosure of fracking chemicals to OMB for review on Wednesday, according to OMB’s website.

Fracking involves high-pressure injections of water, chemicals and sand into rock formations, which open up cracks that enable trapped gas to flow. 



The method has created a natural-gas boom in many states, but is bringing concerns about groundwater pollution and other public health threats along with it.

The Interior rules will require disclosure of the components used in fracking fluids, as well as provisions governing management of large volumes of “flowback” water from drilling sites and measures to ensure wellbore integrity.

Obama administration officials say they strongly support natural-gas development but that new safeguards are needed.

At a Capitol Hill hearing Wednesday, Salazar said the rules are necessary to ensure trust in the safety of the widespread fracking, noting that absent the disclosure, public doubts could become the “Achilles heel” of the gas-drilling boom.

But several Republicans attacked the planned rules at Wednesday’s Natural Resources Committee hearing on Interior’s budget plan.

Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) said the rules will “add significant barriers and delays” to gas development.