The California State Legislature was busy last week amending and voting on bills relating to hydraulic fracturing, including rejection of a moratorium. The Senate passed SB 4 with Senator Pavley’s announcement that she would remove the fracking moratorium provision to get the bill to the Assembly. With that change, there will be no surviving bills proposing a fracking moratorium this legislative session.
Continue Reading California Legislature Weeds out Fracking Bills and Rejects Moratorium
SB 395
Senate Committee Also Advances Fracking Bills
By Robin Seifried on
Posted in Oil and Gas
Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality advanced two bills that would increase regulation of hydraulic fracturing. The first of these bills, SB 4, would (1) impose a permit requirement specific to fracking activities and (2) prohibit fracking beginning January 1, 2015, pending the completion of a study on the impact of fracking (see April 11, 2013, post). The second bill, SB 395, would (1) subject the disposal of fracking-related water to underground injection control (UIC) regulations, from which oil and gas operations are currently exempt, and (2) effectively prohibit the disposal of fracking wastewater containing hazardous waste by injection (see April 8, 2013, post).
Continue Reading Senate Committee Also Advances Fracking Bills
Another Bill Revised to Expand Regulation of Fracking Activities
By Robin Seifried on
Posted in Oil and Gas
Last week, California Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson amended the bill she introduced earlier this year to further regulate the management of water produced in fracking operations. The amended bill would also shift the prior focus from regulating fracking wastewater generally as hazardous waste to the regulation of fracking wastewater disposal. Specifically, it would prohibit the injection of any wastewater containing hazardous waste.
Continue Reading Another Bill Revised to Expand Regulation of Fracking Activities
Three New California Bills Proposed to Further Regulate Fracking
By Robin Seifried on
Posted in Oil and Gas
Last month, California legislators introduced three bills that relate to hydraulic fracturing. On February 20, 2013, Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson introduced SB 395 to regulate water produced during fracking operations. The other two bills were introduced in the Assembly and relate to DOGGR’s approval of well drilling activities. On February 11, 2013, Assembly Member Marc Levine introduced AB 288 to require fracking-specific approval. On February 22, 2013, Assembly Member Das Williams introduced AB 982 to require an agency-approved groundwater monitoring plan for fracking operations.
Continue Reading Three New California Bills Proposed to Further Regulate Fracking