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Permalink Reply by jffree1 on July 16, 2011 at 2:40

Here's the Star-Telegram version:

The three new laws Perry touted Friday:

HB3328 requires natural gas drillers to publicly disclose the chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, starting in July 2012. When they frack, drillers pump millions of gallons of water and chemicals deep into the ground to break up rock formations and release gas.

Concerns have been raised over possible groundwater contamination. The industry says the process is safe.

Officials say this will help make the fracking process more transparent. Other states have passed various regulations calling for disclosure, but none actually made the requirement a law. In Texas, drillers will have to post the chemicals and amounts used.

"This is a piece of legislation that has national implications," Perry said. "This new disclosure -- it is one of the first, and I might say the strongest, in the nation -- will help ensure safety and environmental quality while encouraging American ... production and reducing dependence on foreign oil."

SB20 is geared to encourage companies with heavy-duty vehicles to switch to natural-gas-powered vehicles within the "Texas Triangle," an area with Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio at its corners. "This is one of the more exciting times for me, to see Texas truly lead this charge of using our natural gas that's produced right here in America to move our big ... trucks," Perry said.

SB527 establishes a network to provide for more monitoring of air quality in North Texas. "This will [bring] additional air-monitoring stations around the Barnett Shale region," Perry said.

State Rep. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, said: "Many of us have worked tirelessly for years to strike the right balance between protecting our public health and well-being, while allowing North Texas to reap the tremendous economic benefits that our natural resources provide. This bill package finds the right balance."

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/07/15/3224995/perry-touts-the-tex...

 

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Permalink Reply by Mac Davis on July 16, 2011 at 8:19

HB3328 is a sham bill.  It allows chemicals to be kept secret if the driller considers them "proprietary."  In other words, "You have to disclose the chemicals, but if you don't want to, all you have to do is say they are 'proprietary'." 

 

Texas politics and bribes to politicians at their finest. 

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