Dems unveil 'strongest anti-fracking bill' for federal land
A pair of Democratic House members introduced a bill Wednesday to ban hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas, commonly known as fracking, on federal land.
Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) touted the measure as the “strongest anti-fracking bill” ever introduced. It would cover national parks, Bureau of Land Management property, national forests, wilderness areas and other lands under federal jurisdiction.
“Our national parks, forests and public lands are some of our most treasured places and need to be protected for future generations,” Pocan said in a statement announcing the bill on Earth Day.
“It is clear fracking has a detrimental impact on the environment and there are serious safety concerns associated with these type of wells,” he said. “Until we fully understand the effects, the only way to avoid these risks is to halt fracking entirely.”
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http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/239685-dems-introduce-strongest-anti-fracking-bill-for-federal-land