ONLY YOU CAN PROTECT YOUR DRINKING WATER
Take Action Today to Support the FRAC-ACT ...

TAKE ACTION !
Protect Public Drinking Water: Act on the FEDERAL FRAC-ACT
Please send this web-page to friends all over the country.

SIGN NRDC PETITION - DIRECT LINK

Contact your U.S. Representative and Senator today and urge them to support this important federal legislation. Suggest that they encourage other elected officials to co-sponsor this bill, as well. This is particularly important for all states in the Delaware River Basin (NY, NJ, PA, DE) This watershed supplies water to 15 million residents, in NYC and beyond. There are 50,000 gas wells planned that threaten to contaminate our water, land and air and industrialize this watershed.
 
The FRAC-ACT (HR2766/S1215)
For a quick link to your Congressperson, use this link:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
 
For a quick link to your Senator, use this link:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
 
...........................................

CUT+PASTE THE TEXT BELOW - TO YOUR CONGRESSPERSON & SENATOR
...........................................

Dear ........,
 
We are writing to ask you to co-sponsor the “Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act” (H.R. 2766) (S.1215).
 
The United States is fortunate to have significant natural gas resources in reserve as we plan our energy future.  We can expect natural gas exploration to intensify in the coming years, especially in shale gas areas located in the Delaware River Watershed.  Producing oil and gas, however, should not come at the expense of public health.
  
The oil and gas industry uses the process called hydraulic fracturing in 90 percent of wells. Millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals are injected at high pressure into underground rock formations to blast them open and increase the efficiency of the wells.  “Fracking,” as it is known, often occurs near underground sources of drinking water.  However, a provision was added to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 exempting this industry from complying with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), one of our landmark environmental and public health protection statutes.  This industry should comply with the same laws as other industries.
 
This is a major concern because fracking fluids can contain highly toxic chemicals such as benzene, toluene, methanol and formaldehyde.  These compounds, which can contaminate drinking water, are kept secret from the public as “proprietary information.”  However, even low concentrations of toxic chemicals can have adverse health and environmental consequences.  A number of cases have been reported around the country whereby groundwater was found to be contaminated, and residents have become ill after fracking operations began in their communities, including in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, Ohio, Arkansas, and Texas.  This is not simply anecdotal evidence; health professionals have found enough evidence to raise concerns as well, especially since less toxic fracking fluids are available.  A copy of a letter recently submitted to Congressional representatives by health professionals is attached.
 
Representatives Diana DeGette, Maurice Hinchey, and Jared Polis recently introduced the “Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act” (H.R. 2766) to repeal the exemption, ensure that drinking water supplies are protected under federal law, and allow safe hydraulic fracturing operations to continue.
 
We are asking you to co-sponsor this important legislation.  To become a co-sponsor, please contact Rebecca Brown in Congresswoman Diana DeGette’s office or Michael Iger in Congressman Maurice Hinchey’s office. Please let us know your decision.
 
 
Sincerely,

...........................................

The FRAC-ACT (Fracking Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act) would end the natural gas industry’s exemption to the Safe Drinking Water Act, require the gas industry to disclose the chemicals they use in the gas extraction process and urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a study on the risks that hydraulic fracturing/natural gas extraction poses to drinking water supplies. 
 
Hydraulic fracturing, also known as “fracking,” is a process whereby fluids are injected at high pressure into underground rock formations to blast them open and increase the flow of gas. Troubling incidents have occurred around the country where people became ill after fracking operations began in their communities. Some chemicals that have been used in fracking include diesel fuel, benzene, industrial solvents, hydrochloric acid and other carcinogens and endocrine disrupters.
 
Sponsors of this bill are Congressmembers Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Diana DeGette (D-CO) & Jared Polis (D-CO) and U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) & Charles Schumer (D-NY).   The 2005 Energy Policy Act, under the guidance of former Vice President Dick Cheney, created exemptions for the natural gas industry to the Safe Drinking Water Act (also known as the Halliburton Loophole)