Sponsored by:
Senator ROBERT M. GORDON
District 38 (Bergen)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Greenstein
SYNOPSIS
Urges enactment of H.R. No. 2766, known as the “Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2009.”
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution urging the Congress and the President of the United States to enact H.R. No. 2766, known as the “Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2009.”
Whereas, H.R. No. 2766, known as the “Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2009,” has been introduced before the Congress of the United States; and
Whereas, The word “fracturing” in its title refers to hydraulic fracturing – colloquially referred to as “fracking,” “hydrofracking,” and “hydrofracturing”; and
Whereas, Hydraulic fracturing is the drilling technique of expanding existing fractures or creating new fractures in rock by injecting water, often with chemicals, sand, or other substances, and often under pressure, into or underneath the surface of the rock, and often for the purposes of natural gas exploration and production; and
Whereas, When hydraulic fracturing is used for natural gas exploration or production, there may be a greater volume of chemicals used for the fracturing and their toxicity may be of more concern, because during the fracturing, chemicals and materials can suddenly and in an uncontrolled manner be introduced into surface waters and ground water as occurred in June 2010 in Pennsylvania when hydraulic fracturing at a drill site in Clearfield County created an uncontrolled release of many gallons of contaminated water and natural gas; and
Whereas, It still remains to be disclosed the extent of any contamination of surface waters or ground water from that release or even the chemicals and their concentration used at the Clearfield County, Pennsylvania drill site; and
Whereas, H.R. No. 2766 repeals the exemption for hydraulic fracturing under the federal “Safe Drinking Water Act” and requires disclosure of the chemicals used during hydraulic fracturing; and
Whereas, States such as New Jersey and New York are considering bans on hydraulic fracturing to protect their citizens from the ill effects of potentially extensive pollution of drinking, surface, and ground water; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Congress and the President of the United States are urged to enact into law H.R. No. 2766, known as the “Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2009,” for the protection of the health and well-being of the people of the United States.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and every member of the New Jersey Congressional delegation.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the Congress and the President of the United States to enact H.R. No. 2766, known as the “Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act of 2009.”
Hydraulic fracturing – colloquially referred to as “fracking,” “hydrofracking,” and “hydrofracturing” – is the drilling technique of expanding existing fractures or creating new fractures in rock by injecting water, often with chemicals, sand, or other substances, and often under pressure, into or underneath the surface of the rock, and often for the purposes of natural gas exploration and production. When hydraulic fracturing is used for natural gas exploration or production, there may be a greater volume of chemicals used for the fracturing and their toxicity may be of more concern, because during the fracturing, chemicals and materials can suddenly and in an uncontrolled manner be introduced into surface waters and ground water. In June 2010 in Pennsylvania, hydraulic fracturing at a drill site in Clearfield County created an uncontrolled release of many gallons of contaminated water and natural gas. H.R. No. 2766 repeals the exemption for hydraulic fracturing under the federal “Safe Drinking Water Act” and requires disclosure of the chemicals used during hydraulic fracturing.