Kasich poised to sign bill for hydraulic fracturing

5/26/2012

COLUMBUS — Rules regulating oil and gas well construction, water handling, and the disclosure of chemicals used in drilling have cleared final legislative hurdles before heading to Gov. John Kasich.

The Ohio Senate voted 21-8 Thursday to approve the new regulations governing hydraulic fracturing in the Utica and Marcellus shale formations running under sections of the state.

The provisions are part of the wide-ranging energy bill that also addresses Ohio's clean energy standard and makes dozens of other changes.

The Ohio House approved the measure 73-19 earlier Thursday. Mr. Kasich is expected to sign it.

"We'll be better stewards of our environment because of it, and our kids and grandkids will thank us for it," Mr. Kasich said.

Some environmental groups turned against the bill Wednesday after a provision was added limiting who can sue energy companies for chemical trade secrets. Among them were the Ohio Environmental Council and the Sierra Club, which had previously been neutral.

The Kasich administration said it fought to guarantee that owners and adjacent neighbors of well properties could file trade secret challenges.

Environmentalists argued, however, that the language requires all others to show current or potential harm from the secret chemicals before a lawsuit would be allowed.

The language could also preclude the environmental groups themselves from waging legal battles against drillers over their trade secrets, though they could sue on behalf of an affected person.

Other provisions of the bill are being touted as among the toughest in the nation.

Well operators would be required to disclose within 60 days the chemicals they used to initially drill and hydraulically fracture a well.

Fracking is a high-pressure drilling technique that involves blasting thousands of gallons of water into the earth to fracture shale formations and release gas, oil, and natural gas liquids.

The bill also would require chemical reporting when operators first drill through underground drinking water sources.

Chemicals used to service or plug a well could be requested by state regulators.

The legislation also would allow doctors treating people injured during well construction and production to share proprietary information with not only other medical providers but with public health agencies and the patient.