Lawmakers Reintroduce Frack Pack to Hold Oil and Gas Industry Accountable

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Diana DeGette, Kathy Castor, Jared Huffman, Jan Schakowsky, and Yvette Clarke have reintroduced the Frack Pack, a suite of bills designed to close loopholes that exempt oil and gas companies from core environmental and public health protections. The package includes the FRAC, CLEANER, FRESHER, SHARED, and CLOSE Acts.

Following is a reaction from Amy Mall, director, fossil fuels, Nature Program, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council): 

“Fracking and related oil and gas operations have exposed too many communities to toxic pollution for far too long, and they’ve been allowed to do it because of loopholes that let this industry play by a different set of rules. The Frack Pack establishes long-overdue safeguards to help ensure that communities have safe drinking water, clean air, and transparency about the dangerous chemicals being used near their homes—and sometimes in their backyards.” 

“These bills would bring some basic fairness and accountability to an industry that has enjoyed exemptions from laws that others have to follow. Closing these loopholes is essential to defending communities on the frontlines of drilling, protecting public health, and upholding our nation’s bedrock environmental laws. Congress should advance this package and end the special exemptions that allow oil and gas companies to sidestep basic protections every community deserves.”